All-important here, are Polanyi's conception of the nature of reality, which, far from being necessitarian or determinist, is characterised by internal freedom or spontaneity by virtue of which it constantly takes us by surprise; and the way in which Polanyi holds different levels to operate in cross-level coor¬dination with one another: the higher level resting on laws obtain¬ing at the lower level, yet not finally determined by it but rather controlling the boundaries of the level below it through a richer and wider organisation which it is made to serve. m.