Michael Polanyi Quotes

A collection of quotes by Michael Polanyi.

Michael Polanyi (1891-1976) was a Hungarian-British polymath and philosopher renowned for his extensive contributions to a wide range of disciplines. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Polanyi studied medicine at the University of Budapest, earning his medical degree in 1913. However, his intellectual pursuits shifted towards the fields of physical chemistry and philosophy, and he went on to obtain a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Budapest in 1917.

Polanyi became a prominent figure in the scientific community, making significant contributions to the understanding of adsorption and catalysis. He published numerous articles and books on these subjects and held teaching positions in Germany and England throughout the 1920s and 1930s. However, the ascent of Nazi Germany compelled Polanyi and his Jewish wife to flee to England in 1933.

In England, Polanyi shifted his focus from the natural sciences to philosophy and sociology. He became known for his work on the nature of scientific knowledge, particularly his concept of "tacit knowledge," emphasizing the importance of personal involvement and intuitive judgment in scientific inquiry. His ideas challenged the prevailing positivist philosophy of science prevalent at the time.

Polanyi's influential books include "Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy" (1958) and "The Tacit Dimension" (1966), which articulated his ideas on the fundamental role of tacit knowledge in all learning and understanding.

Throughout his life, Polanyi received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science and philosophy. Today, he is remembered as a thinker who bridged the gap between the philosophy of science and practical scientific inquiry, leaving a lasting impact on both domains.

These maxims and the art of interpreting them may be said to

These maxims and the art of interpreting them may be said to constitute the premisses of science but I prefer to call them our scientific beliefs. These premisses or beliefs are embodied in a tradition, the tradition of science.

Michael Polanyi

Art Science Belief Tradition

I hold that the propositions embodied in natural science are

I hold that the propositions embodied in natural science are not derived by any definite rule from the data of experience, and that they can neither be verified nor falsified by experience according to any definite rule.

Michael Polanyi

Experience Science Rules

Admittedly, the body of scientists, as a whole, does uphold

Admittedly, the body of scientists, as a whole, does uphold the authority of science over the lay public. It controls thereby also the process by which young men are trained to become members of the scientific profession.

Michael Polanyi

Men Science Thepublic

I shall suggest, on the contrary, that all communication rel

I shall suggest, on the contrary, that all communication relies, to a noticeable extent on evoking knowledge that we cannot tell, and that all our knowledge of mental processes, like feelings or conscious intellectual activities, is based on a knowledge which we cannot tell.

Michael Polanyi

Communication

Human beings exercise responsibilities within a social setti

Human beings exercise responsibilities within a social setting and a framework of obligations which transcend the principle of intelligence.

Michael Polanyi

Intelligence

The process of philosophic and scientific enlightenment has

The process of philosophic and scientific enlightenment has shaken the stability of beliefs held explicitly as articles of faith.

Michael Polanyi

Faith