Perception, knowledge and freedom in the age of extremes: on the historical epistemology of Ludwik Fleck and Michael Polanyi

• Published in: Studies in East European thought Vol. 64; no. 1/2; pp. 107 - 120
• Main Author: Hagner, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.05.2012; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cognition & reasoning; Congresses and Conventions; Democracy; Education; Epistemology; Fleck, Ludwik; Fleck, Ludwik (1896-1961); Freedom; Gestalt psychology; History; Knowledge; Perception; Perception theory; Perceptions; Philosophy; Polanyi, Michael; Political Philosophy; Political Science; Psychology; Psychophysiology; Science; Scientific Knowledge; Sensory perception; Social psychology; Sociological theory; Tacit knowledge; Thought; Visual perception; Gestalt psychology; Democracy; Perception; Ludwik Fleck; Michael Polanyi
• ISSN: 0925-9392; 1573-0948
• DOI: 10.1007/s11212-012-9162-6

This paper deals with Ludwik Fleck's theory of thought styles and Michael Polanyi's theory of tacit knowledge. Though both concepts have been very influential for science studies in general, and both have been subject to numerous interpretations, their accounts have, somewhat surprisingly,...