Nullius in Verba Episode 70: Scientia Tacita
Nov 14, 2025
Dive into the intriguing world of tacit knowledge as the hosts unravel its hidden layers in science. From how we internalize skills like riding a bike to the unseen impacts on experiment replication, they explore why this concept has lingered in obscurity. Hear about concealed methods, relational knowledge, and the influence of technology in bridging gaps. The discussion also touches on sociological aspects within academia, mentorship dynamics, and the role of unspoken rules in fostering success. A thought-provoking journey into what we know but struggle to express!
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Knowing More Than We Can Tell
- Tacit knowledge means we can know more than we can tell and cannot always verbalize how we do things.
- This includes procedural skills like face recognition, riding a bike, and tying shoelaces that resist simple verbal description.
Tacit Practices Challenge Replication
- If key scientific practices are tacit and not explicit, parts of science remain non-formal and hard to standardize.
- That raises hard questions about how to assess and replicate studies reliably.
Lab Visits Reveal Small Tricks
- Collins and others used lab visits to explain why some experimenters succeed while others fail, e.g., how to carry or handle rats.
- Observing someone work often reveals small but important practices that papers omit.
