Revisiting the Issue of Interdisciplinarity and Disciplinary Distinctions in Social Sciences

Abstract

Interdisciplinarity depicts a theoretical and pedagogical approach and a set of academic practices that has been increasingly more popular and widespread. Being more than a general term describing theoretical, pedagogical and institutional activities, interdisciplinarity has radically altered the conception of disciplinary distinctions and caused various disciplines to redefine their symbolic and methodological boundaries. Moreover, academic communities are on the way of changing their symbolic and institutional territories, very solidly defined at times, upon influence of interdisciplinarity. This article focuses on the concept of interdisciplinarity with respect to the relatively long history of disciplinary distinctions and attempts to critically analyze the various definitions of and problematic points regarding the concept.

Çağdaş Batı Kültürü ve AB Medeniyetinin Egemenliği Üzerine Çok Disiplinli Bir Değerlendirme

“…In ancient times, we saw that fundamental knowledge could only be obtained by feeding on very different areas of expertise. For example, Aristotle (1952) stated that a well-educated person should not restrict himself to a particular field but must feed on all life resources and acquire skills (Değirmenci, 2017). Elements of a multidisciplinary approach can complement or intersect (Hanisch & Vollman, 1983).…”

“…This point of view also says that it should not be forgotten that any attempt to preserve disciplinary fields as they are tends to decline the complex relationship between knowledge and power. (Değirmenci, 2017). The human being immersed as cyber capitalism acts with this limitless freedom.…”