> THERE IS NO "SPONTANEOUS ORDER"
 > Warren J Samuels


The spontaneous order as described by Ludwig von Mises, Daniel Klein, 
and others, means that the actions of individuals and the social 
outcome are not directed by a central planner.  Of course individual 
action is constrained by rules and institutions that are indeed 
designed.  The movement of traffic in a city is a spontaneous order, 
even though the streets and highways and the traffic rules are 
centrally designed, and even though there are institutions such as 
law enforcement that are centrally imposed.  Daniel Klein uses the 
example of a skating rink in which there is no planner dictating the 
movements of the individual skaters, yet there are few collisions.  A 
orchestra playing a symphony is an example of a directed order in 
contrast to a spontaneous order.

Fred Foldvary