Changes in English studies today, particularly the rise of cultural studies, have forced reexaminations of historical genealogies. Three complex figures whose places are currently being reassessed include the Neapolitan Giambattista Vico (1668 -1744), the Frenchman Etienne de Condillac (1714 -1780), and the Scotsman James Burnet(t), Lord Monboddo (1714 -1799) in our histories of communication, linguistics, English studies,...