Conceptual history
Encyclopedia
Conceptual history is a term used to describe a branch of the humanities
, in particular of historical and cultural studies, which deals with the historical semantics
of terms. It sees the etymology
and the change in meaning of terms as forming a crucial basis for contemporary cultural, conceptual and linguistic understanding. Conceptual history deals with the evolution of paradigmatic ideas and value systems over time, such as "liberty" or "reform." It argues that social history
– indeed all historical reflection – must begin with an understanding of historically contingent cultural values and practices in their particular contexts over time, not merely as unchanging ideologies or processes (i.e. as in Marxism
).
Interest in conceptual history was given a particular boost in the 20th century through the publication of the Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie, the Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe and the journal Archiv für Begriffsgeschichte
.
Conceptual history is an interdisciplinary methodology. Alongside the philosopher Joachim Ritter, the historian
s Otto Brunner
and Reinhart Koselleck
and the sociologist Erich Rothacker
are viewed as the leading scholars of the research area in the German-speaking world and internationally.
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, in particular of historical and cultural studies, which deals with the historical semantics
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
of terms. It sees the etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
and the change in meaning of terms as forming a crucial basis for contemporary cultural, conceptual and linguistic understanding. Conceptual history deals with the evolution of paradigmatic ideas and value systems over time, such as "liberty" or "reform." It argues that social history
Social history
Social history, often called the new social history, is a branch of History that includes history of ordinary people and their strategies of coping with life. In its "golden age" it was a major growth field in the 1960s and 1970s among scholars, and still is well represented in history departments...
– indeed all historical reflection – must begin with an understanding of historically contingent cultural values and practices in their particular contexts over time, not merely as unchanging ideologies or processes (i.e. as in Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
).
Interest in conceptual history was given a particular boost in the 20th century through the publication of the Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie, the Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe and the journal Archiv für Begriffsgeschichte
Archiv für Begriffsgeschichte
Archiv für Begriffsgeschichte is a German philosophy journal. It was founded by Erich Rothacker, and is published by Christian Bermes, Ulrich Dierse and Michael Erler...
.
Conceptual history is an interdisciplinary methodology. Alongside the philosopher Joachim Ritter, the historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
s Otto Brunner
Otto Brunner
Otto Brunner was an Austrian historian. He is best known for his work on later medieval and early modern European social history....
and Reinhart Koselleck
Reinhart Koselleck
Reinhart Koselleck was a German historian, considered as one of the most important historians of the twentieth century...
and the sociologist Erich Rothacker
Erich Rothacker
Erich Rothacker was a German philosopher, a leading exponent of philosophical anthropology. His first major work, Logik und Systematik der Geisteswissenschaften , presents the view that actual historical individuals, whose cognitive equipment is partially created by a specific cultural community...
are viewed as the leading scholars of the research area in the German-speaking world and internationally.
External links
- "Begriffsgeschichte" (History of concepts) by Birger Hjørland
- CONCEPTA – International Research School in Conceptual History and Political Thought
- Centre of Excellence in Political Thought and Conceptual Change, University of Jyväskylä
- HPSCG - History of Political and Social Concepts Group - New Webiste