Encyclopaedic models in the Kuyperian tradition (Part 3: towards a network-model)

Abstract

Hierdie is die derde en finale deel van ? reeks van drie artikels oor die ensiklopediese modelle in die Kuyperiaanse tradisie. Met verskeie modelle wat reeds ondersoek is en met die bewuswording van sekere areas waarin verbeteringe benodig word, gaan ek in hierdie artikel ? nuwe ensiklopediese model skets. Wetenskap word beter verstaan en bevorder wanneer dit vergelyk word met ? netwerk waarin al die fundamentele rolspelers in kontak met mekaar is sonder dat hulle hul unieke aard en rol verloor. Ek sal aantoon dat dit wat in konkrete vakkundige navorsing gebeur, meer gepas deur so ? model gereflekteer word. Hierna sal ek die rol van “mediators” opklaar en ? gepaste manier van verstaan vir die rol van wêreldbeskouing en teologie voorstel. Dit word argumenteer dat hierdie model aan sekere vereistes voldoen (en seker besware beantwoord) wat in die verlede na vore gekom het (soos in deel 1 en deel 2 genoem) in verhouding tot spesifieke ensiklopediese voorstelle. Die oorblywende deel van die artikel beklemtoon sekere positiewe kenmerke van die netwerk-model en argumenteer laastens dat dit in lyn is met ? Reformatoriese wêreldbeskouing.

This is the third and final part of a series of three articles dedicated to encyclopaedic models in the Kuyperian tradition. Having explored several models and having noticed a few areas in which improvement is needed, I will in this article sketch a new model. Scholarship is better understood and promoted when compared to a network, in which all the fundamental players are in contact with each other without losing their unique nature and role. After demonstrating that such model reflects more adequately what happens in concrete scholarship, I clarify the role of “mediators” and I suggest an appropriate way of understanding the roles of worldviews and theology. It is argued that this model meets several requests (and answers some objections) which emerged in the past (as reported in part 1 and 2) in relation to specific encyclopaedic proposals. The remaining part of the article highlights some positive features of the network-model and finally argues that it is in line with a reformational worldview.