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Jan 10 / BARD CEP

University of North Texas Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity (Denton, Texas)

University of North Texas Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity

Denton, Texas

Website: http://www.csid.unt.edu/

Mission Statement

CSID conducts research into the theory and practice of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to knowledge. Interdisciplinary centers focused on a particular theme or problem are common; CSID is the first center devoted to developing a philosophy of interdisciplinarity.

CSID is concerned with two overall themes: the development of the philosophy of interdisciplinarity, and the dedisciplining and interdisciplining of philosophy. In the first task, a much-bandied term is explored in terms of the changing nature of knowledge production today. Disciplines grew into our main means for managing knowledge in parallel with the development of the modern research university. Both assumed the compartmentalizing of knowledge, a system breaking down today.

In the second, the disciplining of philosophy and the humanities is treated as an ontological mistake. Perhaps the sciences can be disciplined, although ecological approaches to knowledge strongly suggest the limits of that. But the humanities are inherently anti-disciplinary in nature. They depend on questioning, redrawing, and erasing boundaries. A disciplined philosophy, where philosophers work primarily with other philosophers, is no philosophy at all.

Issue Areas – Action Issues

CSID research into interdisciplinarity is conducted via case studies, an approach we call ‘field philosophy‘.

Our work at the University of North Texas forms one set of case studies, which include:

Beyond campus, our work includes

And a number of publications, such as the Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity.

Student Name and Class Year: Jordan M. Kincaid, MS ’13

Relevant blog posts:

If you are interested in getting in touch with this student/alum, please contact Caroline Ramaley, [email protected]

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