A1 Journal article (refereed)
On the Standards of Conceptual Change (2020)

Kaukua, J., & Lähteenmäki, V. (2020). On the Standards of Conceptual Change. Journal of the Philosophy of History, 14(2), 183-204. https://doi.org/10.1163/18722636-12341418

JYU authors or editors

Kaukua, Jari

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kaukua, Jari; Lähteenmäki, Vili

Journal or series: Journal of the Philosophy of History

ISSN: 1872-261X

eISSN: 1872-2636

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 14

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 183-204

Publisher: Brill

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/18722636-12341418

Publication open access:

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67798

Abstract

It is a necessary condition for recognising change that there is a yardstick against which the change can be perceived. The same applies to changes that philosophical concepts undergo. This paper delineates standards for recognising conceptual change that meet the requirements of conscientious history of philosophy. More particularly, we want to argue for the need of what we will call non-textual standards. These are features of the world of experience that must be assumed to be shared between us and the historical authors we study. While they must be used in tandem with the recognised contextual standards of conceptual change, we will argue that without recourse to at least some non-textual standards, important kinds of conceptual change will remain inexplicable.

Keywords: anachronism; historicism; realism (philosophy); philosophy; history

Free keywords: conceptual change; history of philosophy; realism

Fields of science: