This collection investigates the fundamental tension between scientific models of knowledge and the traditional role of the arts within the university system. Editors David Fuller and Patricia Waugh assemble a diverse group of contributors to examine how critical theory and academic practice have evolved in response to these competing epistemological frameworks. By bridging the gap between literary studies and broader intellectual inquiry, the text evaluates whether the arts can maintain a distinct methodology in an increasingly empirical academic landscape.

Scholars and students of literary theory frequently cite this work as a significant contribution to the debate over the institutional status of the humanities. Experts highlight the text for its breadth of perspective and its ability to synthesize complex philosophical arguments regarding the nature of academic knowledge.