Michael Polanyi

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Michael Polanyi FRS
Polanyi in England, 1933
Born	Pollacsek Mihály (1891-03-11)11 March 1891 Budapest, Austria-Hungary
Died	22 February 1976(1976-02-22) (aged 84) Northampton, England
Education	Graduated in medicine, 1913; PhD in physical chemistry, 1919
Alma mater	Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest Technische Hochschule, Karlsruhe University of Budapest
Occupation(s)	Professor of physical chemistry, professor of social studies
Employer(s)	Kaiser Wilhelm Institute University of Manchester Merton College, Oxford
Known for	Polanyi's paradox Polanyi's sphere Potential theory of Polanyi Bell–Evans–Polanyi principle Eyring–Polanyi equation Flow plasticity theory Transition state theory Harpoon reaction Tacit knowledge Post-critical
Spouse	Magda Elizabeth Kemeny
Children	John Charles Polanyi, George Polanyi
Parent(s)	Mihály Polacsek (father) Cecília Wohl (mother)
Relatives	Karl Polanyi (brother) Kari Polanyi Levitt (niece)
Awards	Gifford Lectures (1951–1952) Fellow of the Royal Society (1944)

Michael Polanyi FRS^[1] (/poʊˈlænji/ poh-LAN-yee; Hungarian: Polányi Mihály; 11 March 1891 – 22 February 1976) was a Hungarian-British^[2] polymath, who made important theoretical contributions to physical chemistry, economics, and philosophy. He argued that positivism is a false account of knowing.

His wide-ranging research in physical science included chemical kinetics, x-ray diffraction, and adsorption of gases. He pioneered the theory of fibre diffraction analysis in 1921, and the dislocation theory of plastic deformation of ductile metals and other materials in 1934. He emigrated to Germany, in 1926 becoming a chemistry professor at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, and then in 1933 to England, becoming first a chemistry professor, and then a social sciences professor at the University of Manchester. Two of his pupils won the Nobel Prize, as well as one of his children. In 1944 Polanyi was elected to the Royal Society.

The contributions which Polanyi made to the social sciences include the concept of a polycentric spontaneous order and his rejection of a value neutral conception of liberty. They were developed in the context of his opposition to central planning.^[3]