220076 Introduction to the History of Concepts (S) (SoSe 2026)

Focusing on Begriffsgeschichte as developed in Bielefeld and related approaches, this seminar introduces students to the study of how concepts acquire changing and contested meanings over time, across languages, and within shifting socio-political contexts. We will engage with both foundational readings and recent methodological innovations, including digital and distributional approaches to conceptual analysis, global and entangled conceptual histories, and research on conceptual emotions and translation practices.
The seminar will begin in Bielefeld, where we will examine how and why Begriffsgeschichte was conceived by Reinhart Koselleck (1923–2006) and his colleagues. From there, we will turn to other major schools of conceptual history, including the Cambridge School, as well as more recent transnational and interdisciplinary developments.
Participation in this seminar is a prerequisite for the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Contested Concepts: Unraveling Meanings Across Europe” to be held at Bielefeld University from 5–9 October 2026. This programme will bring together students and lecturers from six European universities—Bielefeld University, the University of Mainz, the University of Tartu, the University of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Lille, and the Ukrainian Catholic University—to explore how key social and political concepts travel, transform, and become contested across European societies.