Poetology of knowledge

Abstract

The notion of a history of knowledge not only as a history of statements and stated objects but also as a history of the corresponding ways in which those statements are made opens up a new perspective which correlates the status of knowledge objects and areas with their forms of representation. This approach defines the methodology of a ‘poetology of knowledge’ which investigates the hypothesis that every order of knowledge shapes particular options of representation that function as particular procedures from within, determining the possibility, visibility, sayability, consistency and the correlation of its objects. These operations bring to light the ‘poietic’ force of a form of knowledge inseparable from its will of knowledge and the way in which it explores, comprehends and systematizes its own object area. The central question of the present paper is directly related to this kind of constellations which define certain methodological perspectives and problem areas affecting the scope and level of analysis, the concept of knowledge and the general theoretical orientation of a poetology of knowledge.