Högre seminariet: What are Concepts in Conceptual History? Revisiting Koselleck through Theories of Semantic Relations

This presentation draws on the book Writing Conceptual Histories (edited by Pasi Ihalainen and Jani Marjanen) and attempts to make two interrelated interventions in the field of conceptual history. First, it seeks to clarify one of the key points of contention in the debate that has revolved around Reinhart Koselleck’s framing of conceptual history (Begriffsgeschichte) by drawing on linguistic theories of semantic relations. Second, it tries to be helpful for anyone who is studying words, concepts and ideas historically.