PurposeThe purpose is to map and discuss two schools of thought in knowledge organization research. The objective of this mapping is to examine the conceptual views and the derived questions and concerns voiced in these two schools and whether they fit with concerns in contemporary digital culture.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is a comparative analysis and discussion.FindingsThe comparative analysis and discussion point out the different sets of questions the two schools are concerned with distinct epistemological and ontological implications.Originality/valueThe originality of this article is the naming, mapping and discussion of two schools of research in knowledge with a view to how they fit with problems of ordering, archiving and searching in digital culture.