Michael Polanyi

Chemistry Hungarian-British 1891 – 1976 416 quotes

Pioneer in reaction kinetics and philosophy of science

Quotes by Michael Polanyi

We know more than we can tell.

The Tacit Dimension 1966

Tacit knowledge is the kind of knowledge which is difficult to transfer to another person by means of writing it down or verbalizing it.

The Tacit Dimension 1966

All knowledge is either tacit or rooted in tacit knowledge.

The Tacit Dimension 1966

The pursuit of science is not a pursuit of knowledge, but a pursuit of truth.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

Discovery is not a logical process.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

The ideal of a completely detached, impersonal, and objective knowledge is a delusion.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

Science is a community of truth-seekers.

The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory 1962

Freedom in science is not a luxury, but a necessity.

The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory 1962

The scientist's personal commitment is an indispensable part of knowing.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

The act of knowing includes an appraisal of what is known.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

We can know more than we can prove, and we can prove more than we can formalize.

The Tacit Dimension 1966

The structure of tacit knowing is that we attend from something to something else.

The Tacit Dimension 1966

The scientist's passion for discovery is the ultimate source of scientific progress.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

The pursuit of science is a moral enterprise.

The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory 1962

Objectivity is not the absence of personal commitment, but the commitment to a truth that transcends personal opinion.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

The mind is not a passive recipient of information, but an active participant in the construction of knowledge.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

The scientist's intuition is a vital part of the discovery process.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958

The scientific method is not a set of rules, but a way of life.

The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory 1962

The freedom of science is essential for the advancement of knowledge.

The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory 1962

The pursuit of truth is an act of faith.

Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy 1958