Pathologies of epistemology in literary studies

Abstract

Theoretical/methodological attitudes within the domain of literary studies might most successfully be analyzed and evaluated by examining the epistemological suppositions from which they derive. The present study proceeds (1) to examine some of the epistemological strategies which have commanded attention or displayed coercive force, and (2) to show how the historically inevitable paradigm shifts in literary studies are interpreted and presented by various theorists. The role of epistemology in literary and other disciplines is reviewed and the following theoretical approaches are discussed: New Criticism, deconstruction theories, reading theories, the empirical study of literature and Culler's 'poetics of reading'. The study is concluded with a brief discussion of the immediate future.

Opsomming
Teoretiese/metodologiese benaderings binne die domein van literatuurstudies sou die suksesvolste geanaliseer en geevalueer kon word deur die epistemologiese veronderstel­lings waaruit sulke uitgangspunte afgelei is te ondersoek. Hierdie studie ondersoek (1) sommige van die epistemologiese strategiee wat die aandag opgeeis of wat afdwingbare krag getoon het; en (2) daar word aangetoon hoe die histories onvermydelike paradigma­verskuiwings binne die literatuurstudie deur verskeie teoretici ge"interpreteer en  aangebied word. 'n Oorsig van die rol van die epistemologie in lite re re en ander dissiplines word gegee, terwyl die volgende  teoretiese benaderings ook bespreek word: New Criticism, dekon­struksie, resepsieteoriee, die empiriese benadering tot literatuur en die 'leespoetika' van Culler. Die artikel word afgesluit met 'n kort bespiegeling oor die onmiddellike toekoms.