Naming without necessity: On the genealogy and uses of the label “historical epistemology”

Abstract

The recent discussions of the label “historical epistemology” in the field of (anglo-saxon) history and philosophy of science provide us with an interesting example of branding. It is striking that within a few months, two conferences were devoted to the question “What is historical epistemology”, as if there was a substance (what is…) to be found behind those words. Given this recent interest in the meaning of the expression “historical epistemology”, a detailed analysis of its genealogy seems particularly worth pursuing. In addition to providing some conceptual clarification it also shed light on the international and interdisciplinary circulation of ideas (or lack thereof).