Getting Unstuck
Interdisciplinarity as a New Discipline
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7214477 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Thomas J Scheff (University of California, Santa Barbara, corresponding author), Thomas Scheff (1 Department of Sociology University of Califoria Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California 93106) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 179-185 |
| Publication date | 2013-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociological Forum (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0884-8971 • E-ISSN: 1573-7861 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/socf.12008 |
| OpenAlex | W2087165827 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 19 |
Most disciplines and subdisciplines consider their particular specialization to be valuable in itself and superior to other disciplines. But compared with the huge leaps in the physical sciences, the social/behavioral sciences and humanities have made little progress. Since many of the physical science advances were the result of the merging of disciplines, perhaps interdisciplinarity should be tried. One path to connecting disciplines, subdisciplines, and micro‐macro levels is suggested by Spinoza's idea of part/whole methodology, exactly balancing concrete instances with abstract theses. Ideas by B. Pascal, A. Koestler, A. N. Whitehead, and E. O. Wilson may also be helpful. Any discipline, subdiscipline, or level can serve as a valuable stepping‐off place, but to advance further, integration with at least one other viewpoint may be necessary. Two brilliant examples are The Civilizing Process, by the sociologist Norbert Elias, and Freudian Repression, by the psychologist Michael Billig. Koestler's idea of “bi‐sociation” may prove to be particularly rewarding. The way that Virginia Woolf's depiction of role‐taking in interior monologue preceded the idea in social science is an extraordinary example. The need for integration may be the single most important issue facing social science, the humanities, and their subdisciplines. Given the scope of the social/behavioral problems faced by humanity, the sooner the better
Epistemology · Social science · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Management and Organizational Studies · Philosophy · Social and Cultural Dynamics
Creating ConsilienceIntegrating the Sciences and the Humanities
The System of Professions
Emotions, the Social Bond, and Human Reality
Human Nature and the Social Order
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
Department and Discipline
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
The State of Research in Latino Academic Attainment
Parts and Wholes
Human Nature and the Social Order
Freudian Repression
From the Native's Point of View
Foundations of Social Theory
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,31 |
| Citation span | 2013 - 2025 (13) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |