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Stories of Everything: Epics, Encyclopedias, and Concepts of "Complete" Knowledge.

The article explores the history of the differentiation between epic poetry and literature from encyclopedias in the context of the acquisition of knowledge. The author reflects on the cultural inheritance of epic traditions in modernity embodied by the author Homer and the development of scientific...

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Published in:Eighteenth Century: Theory & Interpretation Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 411 - 431
Main Author: Rudy, Seth
Format: Article
Published: University of Pennsylvania Press Winter2014
Subjects:
Literature & science
History of the theory of knowledge
Encyclopedias & dictionaries
Epic poetry
Homer, fl. ca. 900 B.C.-ca. 801 B.C.
Chambers, Ephraim
Eighteenth century
History
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article explores the history of the differentiation between epic poetry and literature from encyclopedias in the context of the acquisition of knowledge. The author reflects on the cultural inheritance of epic traditions in modernity embodied by the author Homer and the development of scientific knowledge. Emphasis is given to the incompleteness of human learning and the publications of encyclopaedist Ephraim Chambers.