Disciplines

Abstract

In an edition devoted to capturing the atmosphere of interdisciplinarity at Tal-Qroqq, it would be a shame not to first delve into where this term – discipline – comes from. Our contemporary meaning has its roots firmly set in several Old French and Latin terms like: discere (to learn, acquire knowledge), discipere (to grasp intellectually, analyse thoroughly), discipulus (a follower or student), and disciplina (training or self-punishment for the sake of learning). And so, what emerges from these concepts and uses is the sense that acquiring knowledge requires labour. [excerpt]