Michael Polanyi

Hungarian-British physical chemist and philosopher of science (born Mihály Pollacsek), known for contributions to chemical kinetics and for developing the concept of tacit knowledge and critiques of positivism.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Personal Knowledge

    Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy

    Argues that knowledge is not a purely impersonal, formal product but always involves a tacit, personal dimension: practitioners rely on skills, judgment, and intellectual passion—‘we know more than we can tell’—to perceive and articulate facts. Scientific knowing is portrayed as an exercise of personal commitment and fiduciary trust within traditions and communities, where subsidiary awareness and focal attention (indwelling) enable discovery and explanation. The work critiques strict positivist objectivism and shows how objective knowledge emerges through the interplay of subjective judgment, communal standards, and disciplined practice.

    The 16668th Greatest Book of All Time
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