Commercial geography, originally taught in 18th-century trading schools, reached its zenith in the mid-1920s because it was stimulated by the development of the British Empire, noted for its commercial applications, and popularized through information disseminated by geographical societies. Demise factors include America's isolationist attitudes,…

The writings of several philosophers are discussed concerning the issue of defining philosophy. The philosopher aims at the world, at knowledge and understanding rather than at self-expression. (JMF)

Examines definitions of information and highlights a definition that is independent of any specific discipline. Topics include processes; a hierarchical model of information transmission; information representation; information theory; belief and knowledge; and errors, misinformation, and bad data. (67 references) (Author/LRW)

Discusses behaviorism and the gradual shift to a theory of selectionism. Highlights include the development of behaviorism as a part of psychology, including Skinner's theories; varieties of behaviorism, including behavioral analysis; behaviorology in other disciplinary settings; effects of contingencies upon behavior; and the prospects for…

Reviews and critiques representative disciplinary narratives debating the emergence of performance studies within the Speech Communication Association and the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. Shows how both debates centered on pragmatic and seminal questions of disciplinary cohesiveness and relevancy, and argues their respective…

Explores several assumptions in the evolution of speech communication as an academic discipline. Examines the series of choices to elevate the discussion of speech communication subject matters over and above the experience and pleasure of the speaking subject. Argues the position of speech within human science as "communicology" or a…

Examines two debates within the basic writing community (the reaction against Min Zhan Lu's early theoretical work and the recent acrimonious debate regarding Ira Shor's defense of mainstreaming) showing how they reflect conflicting models of the basic writing field, with "critical" discourse challenging the conventions and authority of…

Notes that the question of whether English departments had a future was asked 17 years ago when the author first became a department chair as it is asked now upon her retirement. Discusses things about the profession that have changed, for good or ill. Suggests that the profession's penchant for self-examination has not changed. (RS)

This study used qualitative methods to examine the paradigm choices of 22 legal scholars at three institutions. These faculty members were working in either conventional formalist and realist paradigms or in alternative critical and interpretive paradigms. Paradigm choice appeared to result from personal experiences and structural and conceptual…

Using "educational gerontology" to describe interventions for older adults links education to aging rather than to adults. "Gerontagogy" is proposed as a multidisciplinary combination of the science of gerontology and the study of older adults in teaching/learning situations. (SK)

Contends that public relations is a professional occupation that has become more than a subset or specialization of other disciplinary areas. Calls for reevaluation of professional and disciplinary areas that have influenced public-relations education. Contends that the integrity of public-relations professional education must take precedence over…

States that "rhetoric as epistemic" and the rhetoric of science have a common ancestor, rhetorical theory as a theory of argumentation and invention. Contends, further, that when the epistemic accounts venture too far from the dynamics of argumentation, the project is vulnerable to being absorbed by other disciplinary projects such as…

Describes how, after a quarter-century, James MacGregor Burns, a fellow at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, is still working to refine leadership studies in a way that could change the face of the field. (EV)

Explores the duality of sameness and difference as an underlying principle of classification using the Dewey Decimal Classification as an example. Explains the primacy of division by discipline, its origins in Western philosophy, and the cultural specificity that results, and considers possible universal solutions. (Author/LRW)