摘要：In May of 2005, Oxford University Press published the long-awaited Polanyi biography, Michael
Polanyi, Scientist and Philosopher, by the late William T. Scott and Martin X. Moleski, S. J. For scholars
interested in Polanyi’s thought, this work now provides a standard reference point for Polanyi’s career. Present
and future generations of scholars will rely upon this new biography to help them understand the historical
context that provided opportunities Polanyi turned into solid contributions in science, economics, and
philosophy. This work fittingly reflects Polanyi as a multi-talented and energetic person deeply committed to
understanding and addressing the cultural malaise of his time. It richly portrays Polanyi as a person who accepted
his calling. Readers see the trajectory of a life here.
Like a few others in the Polanyi Society, I have been reading versions of this book for 15 years; my
primary response to its completion was a combination of relief and gratitude that a great project arrived at a
successful, public conclusion. To celebrate the biography’s publication, a session of the 2005 annual meeting
that included Ann Scott and Marty Moleski was devoted to discussion of the book. Most of this issue of Tradition
and Discovery is also devoted to comments on Michael Polanyi, Scientist and Philosopher by a set of people
who worked with Polanyi and/or early recognized the importance of his writing. Lee Congdon, Paul Craig
Roberts, Ruel Tyson, and Richard Gelwick are recognized scholars, and some of these folk play a role in the
biography. Marty Moleski kindly agreed to respond to their comments on Michael Polanyi, Scientist and
Philosopher. As a prelude to this discussion, I have gathered below several important facts about the biography
project.
关键词：William T. Scott, Martin X. Moleski, Michael Polanyi biography
This short essay describes the long process of producing the 2005 biography of Michael Polanyi.
