Nullius in Verba Episode 70: Scientia Tacita
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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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Make Materials Fully Reproducible
- Share full materials, code, and recordings to reduce hidden procedural differences.
- Use transparently shared artifacts (files, 3D prints, videos) so others can reproduce methods exactly.
Technology Shrinks Tacit Gaps
- Modern tools (Qualtrics files, 3D print files, video) reduce many former tacit gaps by capturing exact procedures.
- Increased transparency practices explicitly counter concealed or underspecified methods.
The Experimenter's Regress
- Experimenter's regress highlights circularity: to know an experiment worked you must know the correct outcome, but to know the correct outcome you must trust the method.
- This loop underpins why replication disputes often invoke competence or tacit skill claims.
