Michael Polanyi
9 books
About the Author
Michael Polanyi (1891-1976) was a Hungarian-British polymath whose interdisciplinary contributions spanned philosophy, science, and social thought, profoundly influencing epistemology and the philosophy of science. Born in Budapest, he trained as a physician and chemist, earning a doctorate in 1913, before turning to philosophy amid the upheavals of two world wars. Fleeing Nazi persecution, Polanyi settled in Britain, where he held positions at the University of Manchester and later Oxford. His seminal ideas centered on the concept of tacit knowledge—the unspoken, intuitive dimension of understanding that underpins human cognition and creativity, challenging the positivist emphasis on explicit, objective rationality. Polanyi's work bridged science and humanities, advocating for a personalist perspective that recognizes the embedded, fiduciary nature of knowledge. His enduring legacy lies in illuminating how we know what we know, beyond mere facts, fostering a richer appreciation of intellectual humility and communal inquiry.
Common genres
Writing style
philosophical
interdisciplinary
insightful
Books by Michael Polanyi
