Knowing & Being

Michael Polanyi, 11-3-1891 to 22-2-1976, Theorist of Science.

Here are two Polanyi Principles, derived from his work, adapted from Wally Bock's article, 'Everyday realities of helping groups to be more productive'.

Polanyi Principle: It doesn't matter what you know if it doesn't affect results.
Polanyi calls this "personal knowledge." Using knowledge of inquiry for use of systematic doubt to drive positive outcomes. Ask yourself: "How will I use this?" and "How can I apply this?" Hmmm, right, practice makes perfect. Discovering the value of 'tacit knowledge' and turning inner inferential experiences to documented live lessons.

Polanyi Principle: We don't start with facts.
Polanyi studied how scientists worked and his conclusions work for us, too. He pointed out that scientists' skills, biases, and passions determine what they work on and how they work... Think about how we normally describe 'problem solving'. We usually say that we are objective and therefore begin with the facts, but that's not exactly accurate. Rather, most of the time, we begin with the opinions based on our own biases, tendencies and backgrounds. These opinions determine where and what we look for as facts. There's nothing wrong with this. It's just humanity at work. But if we know that most of us begin problem solving and decision making with unstated assumptions and opinions, we can spend quality time rooting them out and exposing them in the light of brain storming and discussion thus preventing the pursuit of something unattainable (wild goose chase).

"Common experience also tells us that in teaching we rely on an intellectual effort of the learner for recognizing that which we are conveying to him."

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

"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."

"So long as we use a certain language, all questions that we can ask will have to be formulated in it and will thereby confirm the theory of the universe which is implied in the vocabulary and structure of the language."

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

"We could not, for example, arrive at a principle like that of entropy without introducing some additional principle, such as randomness, to this topography."


"If we understand and feel that here in this life we have a link with the infinite, desires and attitudes change. In the final analysis, we count for something only because of the essential we embody, and if we do not embody that, life is wasted. . . . As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." Carl Jung

"Showing gratitude, however, is a key interpersonal skill. I see it as a leadership skill." Ruth Sherman, communication consultant
Preview Michael Polanyi & Wally Bock