Amount Quote by Michael Polanyi
“The amount of knowledge which we can justify from evidence directly available to us can never be large. The overwhelming proportion of our factual beliefs continue therefore to be held at second hand through trusting others, and in the great majority of cases our trust is placed in the authority of comparatively few people of widely acknowledged standing.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Personal Knowledge, Michael Polanyi, 1958
We can only directly verify a small portion of what we know; most beliefs rely on trusting authorities.
In simple terms: Most knowledge comes from trusting others.
Key Takeaway
Question sources, seek evidence.
Themes
epistemology
trust
authority
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- news consumption
- medical decisions
- legal judgments
Key Concepts
social epistemology
knowledge transmission
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify information you receive?
- When should you challenge expert opinion?
A Different Perspective
Authority can be biased or mistaken.
