> I do > not see how the ingredients or raw materials or > intermediate parts of bread or pencils or > computers or anything "made" go spontaneously > together, how any process or order of production > can be spontaneous--changeable, yes, of course, > but spontaneous, no. I do not see how just the > fact that "local knowledge" may go into the > process would imply "spontaneous order" in it. > Try building a 747 spontaneously, or making a > pencil, or composing an e-mail. I can see a > meaning for "spontaneous" in markets." But in > production? the spontaneous order is in how individuals who pursue their selfish interests end up cooperating. This cooperation of many takes place through price adjustments. As prices move towards equilibrium the plans of many to sell are reconciled with the plans of many others to buy. Equilibration in markets results in mutual plan adjustment. Near equilibrium prices constitute a spontaneous order of nearly consistent plans. Hayek sorted this out in his 1937 paper, online here- http://www.econlib.org/library/NPDBooks/Thirlby/bcthLS3.html Hayek was thinking in game theoretic terms, only without complete equilibrium, but with continuous evolution and change. Brilliant stuff... So it is plans, not planes, that come together spontaneously. The 747 example is actually quite important because the coordination of plans in producing such a complex device, using so many unique and varied factors of production- all with so many alternative uses, requires decentalized plan adjustment through the price system. I wrote a short bit on this sort of thing recently- http://www.mises.org/story/2289 Doug MacKenzie