Practical Action

This is a book about knowledge and will considerthat which we do not explicitly know. It willexplain aspects of our everyday experience that mayappear inexplicable for, as Michael Polanyi wouldargue, a wholly explicit knowledge is unthinkable.It is an investigation and exploration into theimplications of the tacit component of knowledge.All knowledge has a tacit dimension which allows oneto move beyond the Cartesian paradigm inepistemology and provides a foundational structurefor understanding.In short, to know is to do.Tacit knowledge is comprised of practical andapplicable knowledge - the type of knowing that isbased on skills, a shared community of tradition andthe intersubjective relationship to the other. Thistext will also engage in a theoretical and practicaldialogue about the important roles that mentorshipand "elbow knowledge" play in all relationships,including the focal and subsidiary aspects of it. Byexamining specific practical actions it will becomeclear that tacit knowledge and skill must beinextricably linked together.

Autorentext

David is a public speaker, philosopher, teacher and human-rights
advocate, licensed electrician and award-winning
magician. He recently launched SoChange, an organization that
works alongside NGO's: building relationships, raising funds and
advocating for change. He teaches at Redeemer
University and Humber College in Ontario, Canada.

Klappentext

This is a book about knowledge and will consider
that which we do not explicitly know. It will
explain aspects of our everyday experience that may
appear inexplicable for, as Michael Polanyi would
argue, a wholly explicit knowledge is unthinkable.
It is an investigation and exploration into the
implications of the tacit component of knowledge.
All knowledge has a tacit dimension which allows one
to move beyond the Cartesian paradigm in
epistemology and provides a foundational structure
for understanding.

In short, to know is to do.

Tacit knowledge is comprised of practical and
applicable knowledge - the type of knowing that is
based on skills, a shared community of tradition and
the intersubjective relationship to the other. This
text will also engage in a theoretical and practical
dialogue about the important roles that mentorship
and "elbow knowledge" play in all relationships,
including the focal and subsidiary aspects of it. By
examining specific practical actions it will become
clear that tacit knowledge and skill must be
inextricably linked together.