Trasfondo filosófico en las clasificaciones bibliográficas desde el Medievo al siglo XIX

Abstract

The creation of bibliographic classifications and other resources about knowledge organization related to them has a magnificent wealth past, it was useful to shape bibliographies, libraries or encyclopedias over centuries in a different way, but aspiring in any case to make easier the access to knowledge. Behind every classification activity of this kind underlies some philosophical intention and a vision of knowledge almost explicit, and in this study a historical path is made to show the development of this activity focus on those underlying philosophical ideas. Here it is introduced a trajectory of several centuries, concretely from Middle Ages to XIX century, where we examine some of the most representative classification of each period of time based on the meaningful links stablished within the cultural frame where they have been created. In general, the history of classifications that organize written knowledge has tended to pursue a universality ideal in order to contribute to knowledge dissemination, and this has involved great efforts and intelligence that has leaded towards a large logical refinement of classifications but also towards a large instrumentalism mainly from Dewey. Being aware of this, in our study we deal with classifications as cultural objects with a meaning that cannot be reduced just to their functional value but in which it can be imprinted a certain philosophical orientation, perspective that lead us to understand classifications in a double theoretical dimension as well.