The Brundtland report introduced in the 1980's the terminus Sustainability. In this term there is obviously much more included as simply eco friendly or environmentally sound. In the first instance, the term focuses on the discussion about the dealing with resources for the following generations. The popular three-pillar model of
sustainability illuminates that the idea of sustainability orientates besides on ecological as well on economical and on social criteria. Obviously, the former on environmental-ecological issues restricted theme is widened on social concerns. This paper focuses on the social sphere of sustainability. The participation in the net of social relations is the wholeness of the actual and potential resources and is called social capital (Bourdieu 1992). A developed social capital is needed to make a 'strong' democracy (Barber 1984) work; a form of democracy that involves extending and enriching the present system of representative democracy through participation of interested citizens in the policy making process, strengthening a culture of deliberation and discussion, such that politics is seen as a communal learning process rather than a rivalry between fixed interests. It will be shown t hat the relationships between people are the bearer of social capital.
These relationships, the core of the social, are formed by non-explicit knowledge. Non-explicit knowledge is widely accepted as a matter of course however, in it's meaning strongly underestimated. So, this paper starts with a classic of implicit knowledge (? 1) and continues by widening this concept into the social sphere (? 2). Finally, it brings
together the concept of non-explicit knowledge with social capital and stresses its importance for sustainability (? 3).
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 CLASSIC: IMPLICIT KNOWLEDGE BY MICHAEL POLANYI
3 CONTINUATION: VIEWPOINTS OF SELECTED SOCIAL THEORIES
4 CONCLUSION: SOCIAL CAPITAL AND IMPLICIT KNOWLEDGE
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This paper explores the role of non-explicit, or "tacit," knowledge in the formation of social capital and its critical significance for achieving sustainability within the social sphere. It aims to demonstrate how social relationships are inherently built upon implicit knowledge rather than solely on formal, explicit rules, and how this understanding can inform policies for a more resilient civil society.
- The conceptualization of implicit knowledge according to Michael Polanyi
- The relationship between non-explicit knowledge and social interaction
- Sociological perspectives on explicit versus implicit social orders
- The importance of social capital for civil society and environmental challenges
- Policy implications for integrating implicit knowledge into decision-making processes
Excerpt from the Book
2 Classic: Implicit knowledge by Michael Polanyi
The difference of explicit/implicit plays a central role in the works of Michael Polanyi. He develops the idea of implicit, "tacit" knowledge by dealing with the strong faith in science of the Soviet Marxism and with the positivistic self-image of the western scientists. His ideas he first formulated in his book "Science, Faith and Society" (1946). In which he shows that the nature and validity of scientific knowledge is not only explainable through strict explicit operations, but that there are 'underlying' forms of dependency and determinedness. They are existentially required and are effective implicitly and tacitly.
In the following book "The Personal Knowledge" (1978) he tries in particular to work out the (cognitive-) psychological foundations for this. That knowledge is more than the sum or integration of the single characteristics, he illuminates at the example of the recognition of human faces. He refers to the unconsciously accompanying tendency to build coherent structures and uniformed forms. Because of this tendencies to grasp forms or shapes that the so-called 'blind-spots' are not temporary deficits but necessary features. These ideas are confirmed by the Gestalt psychology and physiological research, for example from Maturana and Varela (1980).
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the concept of sustainability beyond its ecological dimensions, focusing on the social sphere and the role of social capital in building a 'strong' democracy.
2 CLASSIC: IMPLICIT KNOWLEDGE BY MICHAEL POLANYI: This section explores Michael Polanyi’s theories on tacit knowledge, arguing that human understanding and social coordination rely on non-explicit forms of knowledge that cannot be fully formalized.
3 CONTINUATION: VIEWPOINTS OF SELECTED SOCIAL THEORIES: This chapter examines how various sociological theories and the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein conceptualize the relationship between explicit rules and implicit social practices.
4 CONCLUSION: SOCIAL CAPITAL AND IMPLICIT KNOWLEDGE: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, asserting that social capital is essential for a functioning civil society and that future policies must account for the persistent role of non-explicit knowledge.
Keywords
Implicit knowledge, Tacit knowledge, Social capital, Sustainability, Social sphere, Michael Polanyi, Pierre Bourdieu, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Civil society, Social interaction, Social theory, Collective resources, Democracy, Emergence theory, Practical schema
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the "social sphere of sustainability," specifically investigating how implicit or "tacit" knowledge underpins social relationships and social capital.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the philosophical foundations of implicit knowledge, the distinction between explicit and implicit social rules, the importance of social capital for civil society, and the limitations of purely regulative or explicit decision-making processes.
What is the ultimate goal of the work?
The goal is to show that social capital—and by extension a healthy, sustainable society—relies on non-explicit knowledge, and to argue that policy-making should better integrate this understanding.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes a qualitative, theoretical approach, drawing on the works of Michael Polanyi, Pierre Bourdieu, George Herbert Mead, and Harold Garfinkel to analyze social theories and philosophical concepts.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the development of Polanyi's concept of tacit knowledge, followed by an analysis of sociological theories that contrast explicit actions with implicit, mutually oriented social behaviors.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as implicit knowledge, social capital, sustainability, social sphere, and civil society.
How does Polanyi's concept of "emergence" apply to social order?
Polanyi suggests that social order emerges from a level that cannot be explained or controlled by the detailed, explicit rules of its underlying components; instead, it is constituted through implicit, mutually oriented actions.
Why does the author argue against the total formalization of knowledge?
The author argues, based on Polanyi's work, that the process of formalizing knowledge to the exclusion of implicit elements is self-destructive, as implicit knowledge is foundational to understanding and social coordination.
- Quote paper
- Stefan Krauss (Author), 2004, Implicit knowledge and social capital, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/29022
