Court of Reason; Webster's Third: Is English Changing or Being Corrupted
Description:
This programs advocates, Dwight Macdonald, New Yorker magazine critic, and Patrick Kilburn, associate professor of English at Union College, offer their opinions on the highly controversial Third Edition of Websters New International Dictionary. Court members are Gore Vidal, playwright and novelist; Martin Levin, essayist and critic; and Robert K. Merton. Running Time: 53:40 (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) Court of Reason is an examination of opposing ideas and opinions which surround controversial questions. During each Court of Reason, Dr. Robert K. Merton, professor of sociology and chairman of the Department of Sociology at Columbia University, is the presiding Court member. Two advocates present their opposing views on the issue under discussion before being closely questioned by three Court members. During the final segment of the episode the merits of the case are reviewed by the three Court members. Dr. Robert K. Merton, who has been teaching at Columbia University since 1941, is an associate director of the Bureau of Applied Social Research, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and a Fellow of the American Philosophical Society. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, and he has received a prize for distinguished scholarship from the American Council of Learned Societies. His many books include Mass Persuasion and Social Theory and Social Structure. Court of Reason is a production of WNDT, New York City. The 6 hour-long episodes that comprise this series were originally recorded on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
