The Invisible College refers mainly to the intrinsic ideology of the free transfer of thought and technical expertise, usually carried out without the establishment of designated facilities or authority structure, spread by a loosely connected system of word-of-mouth referral or localized bulletin-board system, and supported through barter (i.e. trade of knowledge or services) or apprenticeship. In earlier times the term also included certain Hegelian aspects of secret societies and occultism. Word of mouth (WOM) is the passing of information by verbal means, especially recommendations, but also general information, in an informal, person-to-person manner, rather than by mass media, advertising, organized publication, or traditional marketing. ... History teaches us that man learns nothing from history. ... A secret society is an organization that requires its members to conceal certain activities—such as rites of initiation—from outsiders. ... The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to the knowledge of the secret or knowledge of the hidden and often popularly meaning knowledge of the supernatural, as opposed to knowledge of the visible or knowledge of the measurable, usually referred to as science. ...

It is akin to the old guild system, yet holds no sway in recognized scholastic, technical or political circles. It is merely an attempt to circumvent bureaucratic or monetary obstacles by knowledgeable individuals and civic groups. Said entities generally feel a need to share their methods with fellow journeymen, so to speak, and to strengthen local techniques through collaboration.

In short, it is a grassroots educational system.

An example of an Invisible College is the network of astronomers, professors, mathematicians, and natural philosophers in 16th century Europe.* Men like Johannes Kepler, Rheticus, and Tycho Brahe passed information and ideas to each other in an invisible college. One of the most common methods used to communicate was through annotations written in personal copies of books that were loaned, given, or sold from person to person.

• Gingrich, Owen The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus. Penguin Books, 2004. Chap. 11: The Invisible College

See also

• Bard College Clemente Program
• Royal Society