Introduction to Conceptual History

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label Diverse autorenew 2025-09-29, 17:00 history_edu Diana Ignat
The presumption that concepts, arguments and ideas are timeless has been replaced in recent decades by an awareness of their unavoidable historicity and temporality. Based on methods proposed by such scholars as Reinhart Koselleck, Quentin Skinner, John Pocock, and Michel Foucault, which focus on the use of language in a historical context, conceptual history serves as an innovative and rigorous approach to the analysis of key social and political concepts, arguments and ideas.

In the summer of 2012, Concepta, International Research School in Conceptual History and Political Thought, and its partner institutions will organise the seventh Introduction to Conceptual History course. An international team of distinguished scholars and visiting lecturers will help participants critically examine the chief concepts in the humanities and social sciences from new perspectives.The course includes a series of lectures, a seminar and workshops. It is designed for Finnish and international PhD and advanced Master's degree students from various academic fields. Interest in the humanities and/or political thought is an asset.

Period
07-08-2012 - 23-08-2012 (3 weeks)

Target group
Finnish and international PhD and advanced Masters degree students from various academic fields. Interest in the humanities and/or political thought is an asset.

Course aim
The goal of conceptual history is to illuminate the concepts and ideas that are central to the operation of political and social life through the study of their migration, reception, translation, and diffusion through time and space. Conceptual analysis involves looking at larger semantic, discursive, ideological and rhetorical settings in which concepts are given meaning. Doing conceptual history, therefore, demands familiarity with a variety of linguistically oriented approaches to discourse and ideology, as well as to rhetoric. The course has two main objectives. First, it introduces students to the fundamental aspects of the theory and methodology of conceptual history, which they can then use as tools in their own research. Second, it explores contemporary trends in conceptual history through case studies.

Credits
6.0 ECTS credits



Course fee
EUR 470: Course fee

The course fee can be paid with a credit card or with a bank transfer before the start of the Helsinki Summer School. It can also be paid upon your arrival in Helsinki. Degree and exchange students attending universities in the Helsinki area are exempted from the course fee. Degree and exchange students attending other Finnish universities are required to pay a half of the course fee (235 EUR).

EUR 150: Registration fee

The registration fee is 150 EUR additional fees for international students. Payment is due within seven days of receipt of written notification of your acceptance to Helsinki Summer School. If you register before 31 May 2012, you will receive a 50 EUR discount on the registration fee. The registration fee for degree or exchange students attending Finnish universities is 50 EUR.

The registration fee is non-refundable. Payment may be made either by bank transfer or credit card (Visa and Eurocard/Mastercard only). If we do not receive a credit card payment or copy of the bank transfer within one week of notification of your acceptance, we will have no choice but to cancel your course reservation. Your application will, however, remain in our database and, if there are still places available, you may renew your registration simply by contacting us.

Course leader
Mr. Sami Syrjmki

Helsinki Summer School is supported by a consortium of nine universities in the Helsinki region.
Address: P.O. Box 3 University of Helsinki
Postal code: FI-00014
City: Helsinki
Country: Finland
Website: http://www.helsinkisummerschool.fi/home/index
E-mail: summer-school@helsinki.fi
Phone: +358 (0)9 191 24766