Michael Polanyi (1891-1976) was a curious man driven to understand most everything that came to his attention. His work experience and exemplary insights took him from medicine to physical chemistry and ultimately to the social sciences and philosophy. His latter move was made in response to such disasters as the world wars, the depression, and the rise of totalitarian regimes. The creative approach he employed for scientific discovery greatly influenced his subsequent work.Because the social and cultural context has changed in the 75 years since his death, the articles in this book seek to identify and build upon his broad-based insights in ways that are fitting today. Thus, the book is divided into a section that, in Polanyian terms, dwells in and interprets his thought and a section that, while rooted in his thought, breaks out of it to reflect on its rich possibilities for further development.
