The dissertation. It’s one of the most intimidating challenges an academic student can face – and yet, ironically, we don’t often stop to consider where it came from in the first place! Who was responsible for inventing such a daunting task? Surprisingly perhaps, the history of dissertations stretches back centuries- making them as much a part of academia as chalkboards and textbooks. In this article, let us take an insightful look at how ‘the dissertation’ came about – who were its creators? What inspired its invention? And what forms did it take over the years? Read on to learn more!
Table of Contents
- 1. What is a Dissertation?
- 2. Ancient Origins of the Thesis
- 3. A Revolutionary Idea: Salvian of Marseille and the Birth of the Dissertation
- 4. Unveiling Richard de Bury’s “Philobiblon”
- 5. From Philosophical Treatise to Academic Tragedy
- 6. Making Sense of It All: How the Thesis was Structured
- 7. Legacy Built on Ideas: Where are We Now?
- Q&A
1. What is a Dissertation?
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A dissertation, also known as a doctoral thesis, is an in-depth paper or project that students write to complete their degrees. The purpose of the dissertation is to demonstrate a student’s ability to apply his/her knowledge and skills acquired during the course of study in order to critically analyze problems or issues within their area of specialization.In particular, dissertations are written for university degree programs such as:
- Doctoral Degrees (PhD)
- Master’s Degrees
First introduced by American Philosopher John Henry Newman in 1858, according to Oberlin College Archives & Special Collections Library “The Idea Of A University” set forth principles on how educational institutions should operate. These theories greatly shaped academic discourse and practices making dissertations part of higher education standards throughout Europe and countries outside Western culture like Australia , Japan , China etc. In general terms English speaking world term Dissertation while French language adopt terme “thèse” . In some parts Latin America these documents are referred as tesis doctoral or tesis de Doctorado which roughly translates into Doctoral Thesis .
2. Ancient Origins of the Thesis
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The origin of dissertations can be traced back to the era of ancient Greece. The Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with developing a type of dissertation, commonly known as an oral defense in 385–322 BC. This technique was used to assess students’ knowledge and understanding by allowing them to present their perspectives on a specific topic or research question.
Aristotle argued that students should not simply rely on books for information but must prove their ability through debates and demonstrations. He believed that rigorous debate conducted in public could bring out imperfections in one’s argument, thus encouraging deeper thought about complex ideas.
In addition, during this period certain Roman professors began writing what we now call “theses” – formal arguments intended to persuade readers or listeners. These works were written mainly as school exercises and remained largely unknown until they began circulating among scholars centuries later.
3. A Revolutionary Idea: Salvian of Marseille and the Birth of the Dissertation
The concept of the dissertation was originated by Salvian of Marseille, an influential Christian theologian and writer. He proposed a novel way to arrange his ideas into distinct categories and arguments in their own sections or “dissertations”. This structure became an important tool for disseminating both theological texts as well as philosophical works throughout the Middle Ages.
Salvian divided the text he wanted to present into five different parts that each explained different aspects of his argument: Reason, Truth, Divinity, Nature/Providence, and lastly, with regard specifically to Christianity, its histiorical evolution through scripture – the so-called Ratio Fidei (or Reason of Faith).
- “In writing this work… I have broken down my dissertaions according to these topics.” – Salvian, from De Gubernatione Dei 8.1
Over time, this method would become standard for scholars looking for a comprehensive means to submit their work on various complex subjects.
- This is because it allowed them the space neccessaryo expand upon multiple angles while also providing room fore clarity in exposition.
Indeed today’s doctoral dissertations continue along similar lines but are now often organized around research questions instead.
4. Unveiling Richard de Bury’s “Philobiblon”
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The Book. Richard de Bury’s Philobiblon, written in 1344, is often considered to be the first example of a bibliophile’s writing. In it, he described the joy of reading and collecting books, making him one of history’s earliest book-lovers. De Bury wrote about his own personal library—which was personally curated by himself—as well as many aspects of his own views on books and authors that could have been shared among likeminded individuals at that time period.
Notable Takeaways. One particular notable takeaway from de Bury’s Philobiblon, is how he detailed why readers should buy certain books and suggested ways to find them. He proposed a few methods for finding rare items in Europe during this era: inheritance; libraries held by members of royal families or religious orders; repurposing manuscripts stored away in monasteries or bought from wealthy owners who no longer had need for them; using merchants as intermediaries when travelling abroad – specifically those traveling between European nations (such as Italy) with an expansive supply chain network already set up for different types of commodities & merchandise exchange transactions.1). Another important concept introduced by de Bury was the notion dissertations were invented out of necessity after recognizing some texts – such as Aristotle – required more than just mere memorization if they were to be discussed properly.2). The creation also featured unnumbered lists detailing various methods which may have served both practical purposes but allowed historians studying today to understand book culture back then.
- 1 ) Brears , P . 2019 . Ancient Manuscript Markets | History Today. Retrieved July 8 , 2020 , from https ://www .historytoday .com /archive/ancient – manuscript – markets
- 2 ) Boyce , C . 2013 . Dissertation Writing Groups | A Forum For Graduate Students To Share Ideas And Experiences About Successfully Navigating Academia ‘ s Interconnected System}. Retrieved July 8, 2020, from http://dissertationwritinggroups.org/.
5. From Philosophical Treatise to Academic Tragedy
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The growth of the dissertations as an academic form and its evolution reflect a process in which centuries-long philosophical treatises, such as those produced by Descartes or Kant, are replaced with shorter documents meant to convey specialized knowledge. The dissertation is often seen as a reaction against more abstract theories and long debates.
By contrast, the modern day dissertation amounts to little more than ‘ticking off’ boxes – that is to say it’s about producing ‘data’ rather than ideas. An increased focus on quantitative data has led some academics to view this shift from qualitative discourse towards purely quantitative evidence during research projects with dismay. Frederic Chavalier first coined the term “dissertation” in 1651 for his book entitled A Discourse Upon Dissertations: Or A General Account Of All That Relates To Them. While we now look back at these pioneering works fondly, they could be viewed gloomily by traditionalists who felt that quality had been lost due to pursuit of metrics.
6. Making Sense of It All: How the Thesis was Structured
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The structure of the thesis was developed in part by Johann Gottfried Eichhorn, who is widely cited as inventing dissertations. His approach included presenting theories and evidence that supported new ideas related to particular topics or themes. As such, the paper must begin with an introduction where these concepts are discussed, laying a foundation for subsequent points of discussion.
Following this preface comes the body section which details arguments, evidence and analysis. Herein one will find various connections established between different elements within the text; allowing readers insight into certain conclusions being drawn from data gathered through research. Afterward come rebuttals followed by discussions related to implications derived from examination of any contradictions found throughout the paper’s contents ahead of its conclusion.
- Introduction – Include Theories Supported
- Body Sections – Arguments & Evidence
- Rebuttal Section
- Dissertations serve to bridge knowledge gaps between disciplines
- They provide justification for why conclusions were reached by examining existing evidence
< li >Discussions Section – Implications Explored< /ul >
7. Legacy Built on Ideas: Where are We Now?
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The legacy of ideas that have been built over the decades has had a tremendous impact on our current society. From the concept of democracy to mass communication, it can be argued that these ideas are still driving force in today’s world. Dissertations and other forms of written research have come into their own as well, thanks largely to German legal scholar Johann Gottfried von Herder. In 1799 he was credited with launching what is now considered one of the first modern dissertations.
Today’s dissertations take many different forms. We find them in universities all across the world and even outside academia in organizations such as business corporations or public agencies engaging as studies or reports about certain topics. The purpose remains essentially unchanged – functioning as an extended essay often used as prerequisite for graduation from higher education programs like Master’s degrees and PhD’s.
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Q&A
Q: What is the history of the dissertation?
A: The term “dissertation” was first used in 1651 by the French philosopher René Descartes, who wrote a project for his doctorate thesis on methods to develop scientific knowledge. Since then, dissertations have become an important part of academic research and are often required as part of doctoral studies or other advanced degrees.
Q: Who invented the dissertation?
A: Although it is not possible to pinpoint one single inventor, many believe that René Descartes is responsible for introducing this format of writing with his project completed in 1651. Since then, further ideas have been adopted from ancient cultures and European scholars over time which have all gone into forming today’s understanding of what a dissertation should look like.
Q: How has the form and purpose changed since its inception?
A: Over time there has been an evolution in both structure and content when it comes to dissertations – even back at early stages they were highly structured documents designed to be persuasive texts that explore complex topics in detail. Today’s approach combines rigor within each stage while also making sure arguments flow logically throughout; giving readers thorough evaluations about any given topic relevant to their field!
From its unsung beginnings to the far-reaching impact it has today, the dissertation remains a powerful tool of scholarly expression. It’s an instrument that allows us to explore and communicate our ideas in deeper, more meaningful ways – one invented many centuries ago by a French philosopher but still relevant for generations around the world.
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