Tacit and Explicit Knowledge

"Much of what humans know we cannot say. And much of what we do we cannot describe. For example, how do we know how to ride a bike when we can't explain how we do it? Abilities like this were called 'tacit knowledge' by physical chemist and philosopher Michael Polanyi, but here Harry Collins analyzes the term, and the behavior, in much greater detail, often departing from Polanyi's treatment. In Tacit and Explicit Knowledge, Collins develops a common conceptual language to bridge the concept's disparate domains by explaining explicit knowledge and classifying tacit knowledge. Collins then teases apart the three very different meanings, which, until now, all fell under the umbrella of Polanyi's term: relational tacit knowledge (things we could describe in principle if someone put effort into describing them), somatic tacit knowledge (things our bodies can do but we cannot describe how, like balancing on a bike), and collective tacit knowledge (knowledge we draw that is the property of society, such as the rules for language). Thus, bicycle riding consists of some somatic tacit knowledge and some collective tacit knowledge, such as the knowledge that allows us to navigate in traffic. The intermixing of the three kinds of tacit knowledge has led to confusion in the past; Collins's book will at last unravel the complexities of the idea. Tacit knowledge drives everything from language, science, education, and management to sport, bicycle riding, art, and our interaction with technology. In Collins's able hands, it also functions at last as a framework for understanding human behavior in a range of disciplines."--Provided by publisher Much Of What Humans Know We Cannot Say. And Much Of What We Do We Cannot Describe. For Example, How Do We Know How To Ride A Bike When We Can't Explain How We Do It? Abilities Like This Were Called 'tacit Knowledge' By Physical Chemist And Philosopher Michael Polanyi, But Here Harry Collins Analyzes The Term, And The Behavior, In Much Greater Detail, Often Departing From Polanyi's Treatment.in Tacit And Explicit Knowledge, Collins Develops A Common Conceptual Language To Bridge The Concept's Disparate Domains By Explaining Explicit Knowledge And Classifying Tacit Knowledge. Collins Then Teases Apart The Three Very Different Meanings, Which, Until Now, All Fell Under The Umbrella Of Polanyi's Term: Relational Tacit Knowledge (things We Could Describe In Principle If Someone Put Effort Into Describing Them), Somatic Tacit Knowledge (things Our Bodies Can Do But We Cannot Describe How, Like Balancing On A Bike), And Collective Tacit Knowledge (knowledge We Draw That Is The Property Of Society, Such As The Rules For Language). Thus, Bicycle Riding Consists Of Some Somatic Tacit Knowledge And Some Collective Tacit Knowledge, Such As The Knowledge That Allows Us To Navigate In Traffic. The Intermixing Of The Three Kinds Of Tacit Knowledge Has Led To Confusion In The Past; Collins's Book Will At Last Unravel The Complexities Of The Idea.tacit Knowledge Drives Everything From Language, Science, Education, And Management To Sport, Bicycle Riding, Art, And Our Interaction With Technology. In Collins's Able Hands, It Also Functions At Last As A Framework For Understanding Human Behavior In A Range Of Disciplines. -- Provided By Publisher. The Idea Of Tacit Knowledge Depends On Explicit Knowledge! -- Explicit Knowledge -- Strings And Things -- Digital Strings, Analogue Strings, Affordance, And Causes -- Explicable Knowledge -- Tacit Knowledge -- Relational Tacit Knowledge -- Somatic Tacit Knowledge -- Collective Tacit Knowledge And Social Cartesianism -- Looking Backward And Looking Forward -- A Brief Look Back -- Mapping The Three Phase Model Of Tacit Knowledge. Harry Collins. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This text develops a common conceptual language to bridge tacit knowledge's disparate domains by explaining explicit knowledge and classifying tacit knowledge. Collins then teases apart the three very different meanings which all fell under the umbrella of Polanyi's term. Much of what humans know we cannot say. And much of what we do we cannot describe. For example, how do we know how to ride a bike when we can't explain how we do it? Abilities like this were called "tacit knowledge" by physical chemist and philosopher Michael Polanyi, but here Harry Collins analyzes the term, and the behavior, in much greater detail, often departing from Polanyi's treatment.In Tacit and Explicit Knowledge, Collins develops a common conceptual language to bridge the concept's disparate domains by explaining explicit knowledge and classifying tacit knowledge. Collins then teases apart the three very different meanings, which, until now, all fell under the umbrella of Polanyi's term: relational tacit knowledge (things we could describe in principle if someone put effort into describing them), somatic tacit knowledge (things our bodies can do but we cannot describe how, like balancing on a bike), and collective tacit knowledge (knowledge we draw that is the property of society, such as the rules for language). Thus, bicycle riding consists of some somatic tacit knowledge and some collective tacit knowledge, such as the knowledge that allows us to navigate in traffic. The intermixing of the three kinds of tacit knowledge has led to confusion in the past; Collins's book will at last unravel the complexities of the idea.Tacit knowledge drives everything from language, science, education, and management to sport, bicycle riding, art, and our interaction with technology. In Collins's able hands, it also functions at last as a framework for understanding human behavior in a range of disciplines

Much of what humans know we cannot say. And much of what we do we cannot describe. For example, how do we know how to ride a bike when we can’t explain how we do it? Abilities like this were called 'tacit knowledge' by physical chemist and philosopher Michael Polanyi, but here Harry Collins analyzes the term, and the behavior, in much greater detail, often departing from Polanyi’s treatment.

In Tacit and Explicit Knowledge, Collins develops a common conceptual language to bridge the concept’s disparate domains by explaining explicit knowledge and classifying tacit knowledge. Collins then teases apart the three very different meanings, which, until now, all fell under the umbrella of Polanyi’s term: relational tacit knowledge (things we could describe in principle if someone put effort into describing them),  somatic tacit knowledge (things our bodies can do but we cannot describe how, like balancing on a bike), and collective tacit knowledge (knowledge we draw that is the property of society, such as the rules for language). Thus, bicycle riding consists of some somatic tacit knowledge and some collective tacit knowledge, such as the knowledge that allows us to navigate in traffic. The intermixing of the three kinds of tacit knowledge has led to confusion in the past; Collins’s book will at last unravel the complexities of the idea.

Tacit knowledge drives everything from language, science, education, and management to sport, bicycle riding, art, and our interaction with technology.  In Collins’s able hands, it also functions at last as a framework for understanding human behavior in a range of disciplines.

Much of what humans know we cannot say. And much of what we do we cannot describe. For example, how do we know how to ride a bike when we can’t explain how we do it? Abilities like this were called “tacit knowledge” by physical chemist and philosopher Michael Polanyi, but here Harry Collins analyzes the term, and the behavior, in much greater detail, often departing from Polanyi’s treatment. In __Tacit and Explicit Knowledge,__ Collins develops a common conceptual language to bridge the concept’s disparate domains by explaining explicit knowledge and classifying tacit knowledge. Collins then teases apart the three very different meanings, which, until now, all fell under the umbrella of Polanyi’s term: relational tacit knowledge (things we could describe in principle if someone put effort into describing them), somatic tacit knowledge (things our bodies can do but we cannot describe how, like balancing on a bike), and collective tacit knowledge (knowledge we draw that is the property of society, such as the rules for language). Thus, bicycle riding consists of some somatic tacit knowledge and some collective tacit knowledge, such as the knowledge that allows us to navigate in traffic. The intermixing of the three kinds of tacit knowledge has led to confusion in the past; Collins’s book will at last unravel the complexities of the idea. Tacit knowledge drives everything from language, science, education, and management to sport, bicycle riding, art, and our interaction with technology. In Collins’s able hands, it also functions at last as a framework for understanding human behavior in a range of disciplines. Much of what we know we cannot say. And much of what we do we cannot describe. For example, how do we know how to ride a bike when we can't explain how we do it? These abilities, which we are unable to articulate, were labeled "tacit knowledge" by chemist and philosopher Michael Polanyi, but here Harry Collins analyzes the term, and the behavior, in much greater detail, often departing from Polanyi's treatment. In Tacit and Explicit Knowledge, Collins develops a common conceptual language to bridge these disparate domains by explaining explicit knowledge and classifying tacit knowledge. Collins then teases apart the three very different meanings, which, until now, all fell under the umbrella of Polanyi's term: relational tacit knowledge (things we could describe in principle if we put in the effort), somatic tacit knowledge (things our bodies can do but we cannot describe, like balancing on a bike), and collective tacit knowledge (knowledge we draw on that is the property of society, such as the rule for language). Thus, bicycle riding consists of some somatic tact knowledge and some collective tacit knowledge, such as the knowledge that allows us to navigate in traffic. The intermixing of the three kinds of tacit knowledge has led to confusion in the past; Collins's book unravels these complexities and thus enables us to make new and better use of the underlying concept.-from back cover Cover......Page 1 Tacit and Explicit Knowledge......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 14 INTRODUCTION......Page 16 PART I - EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE......Page 28 ONE - Strings and Things......Page 30 TWO - Digital Strings, Analogue Strings, Affordance, and Causes......Page 48 THREE - Explicable Knowledge......Page 72 PART II - TACIT KNOWLEDGE......Page 98 FOUR - Relational Tacit Knowledge......Page 100 FIVE - Somatic Tacit Knowledge......Page 114 SIX - Collective Tacit Knowledge and Social Cartesianism......Page 134 PART III - LOOKING BACKWARD AND LOOKING FORWARD......Page 154 SEVEN - A Brief Look Back......Page 156 EIGHT - Mapping the Three Phase Model of Tacit Knowledge......Page 172 APPENDIX 1 - An “Action Survey”......Page 188 APPENDIX 2 - What Has Changed since the 1970s......Page 192 REFERENCES......Page 194 INDEX......Page 198