i CHARLESTON CONTRADICTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF ...

does not aid in arriving at an interpretation, since it espouses that each interpretation is as
good as any other. Theorists like Sayer and Fay, who have advanced the philosophies of
Critical Realism and multicultural approaches to social science, have provided a path for
researchers working in the social sciences to arrive at a better interpretation of cultural
materials than either positivism or relativism can support.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION BACKGROUND
Historic preservation has existed as an exercise, if not a formalized discipline, for
as long as there has been a built environment. The Romans were constantly restoring the
temples and monuments associated with their history and using spolia, salvaged material
from existing buildings, in their new structures. Referring to the architecture of the past
and continuing the architectural tradition has always been an important activity for
architects and designers, although the philosophy and treatment of historic buildings has
changed dramatically over time. Historic preservation did not exist as a formal discipline
until the mid to late twentieth century, but until the Modern movement, historic buildings
had always been influential and relevant in contemporary design.
From its humble beginnings as an endeavor pursued by private individuals, the
field of historic preservation has grown to become a formal discipline with its own
educational programs and a myriad of public, private, and non-profit organizations
overseeing its activities. The progress of historic preservation in the United States has
been marked by a series of legislative victories, as well as an increasing awareness of the
value of our historic built environment and its relationship to more sustainable
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