Author(s): Szilárd KMECZKÓ

Title: A PSZICHOANALÍZIS ÉS A SPIRITIZMUS HELYE POLÁNYI MIHÁLY GONDOLKODÁSÁBAN

Source: P. Baka, A. Mészáros, Sz. Simon, A. Litovkina (eds.): 16th International Conference of J. Selye University. Language and Literacy Sections. Conference Proceedings

ISBN: 978-80-8122-508-6

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36007/5086.2025.63

Publisher: J. Selye University, Komárno, Slovakia

PY, pages: 2025, 63-70

Published on-line: 2025

Language: hu

Abstract: THE ROLE OF PSYCHOANALYSIS AND SPIRITISM IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF MICHAEL POLANYI
Michael Polanyi published his significant philosophical works in the decades following the middle of the 20th century, the time of the so called bipolar world order. These decades were marked by the opposition between the East and West. As a scientist, Polanyi followed the evolution of Soviet science and he noted how it turned against science perceived as the search for truth without interest, which Polanyi was one of the advocates of in his time. The idea of planning science has, however, found followers in Polanyi’s circle. During his investigations, it became necessary to define what can or cannot be considered as science. At this point, Polanyi’s research meets with psychoanalysis, a form of knowledge claiming acknowledgment as science, as well as the phenomenon of modern spiritism, which he considers as a sub-category of differentiating between science and pseudo-science. The result is hardly acceptable and not in the least reassuring for the lay public. One of the curiosities of Polanyi’s investigations is that he does not rigidly dismiss certain phenomena of spiritism. In my lecture, I would like to present this somewhat bizarre and easily misinterpreted part of Polanyi’s philosophy of science.

Keywords: Michael Polanyi, Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis, spiritism, demarcation, scientific value

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