Call for Papers

Language as a Scientific Tool. Managing Language as a Variable of Practice and 
Presentation

Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, 29th-30th November 2010

Organizers:

Institute for Culture Studies and History of Theatre, Austrian Academy of Sciences
Working Group “History of Science”, History Department, University of Vienna
Department of Political Science and Sociology, European University at St. Petersburg
English and German Departments, University of Granada


Language has played an important and extended role in the history and philosophy of 
sciences, with language itself also becoming the subject of scholarship. Linguistic 
environments of scientists have unavoidably affected scientific research at various levels 
by, for instance, imposing cultural constraints and preconceptions, and by affecting the 
bounds of communication that structure science as social engagement. Despite the 
relevance of this phenomenon, insufficient historiographical and philosophical 
consideration has been paid to scientists’ own thoughts on language as the essential 
medium of their practice, and as a malleable element that can be shaped to suit their 
goals.
The aim of this conference is, thus, to consider the history of language as an object of 
scientific concern, whether for epistemological or semantic reasons, stemming from 
scientists’ understanding of language as a tool for conceptualising the world, from 
concerns on successfully communicating within the scientific community among 
specialists or merely between scientists and the general public. In either case the 
examination of the historical circumstances that have motivated such reflection appear 
paramount.
Language can also be considered as a consciously modelled tool for achieving definite 
scientific and political goals. Indeed, Bacon began his natural philosophy explicitly 
criticising scholastic ideas on language, which for him obscured nature instead of 
clarifying it. Therefore, it seemed to him that language had to be reformed and properly 
redefined to serve in the natural philosophic endeavour. Locke gave specific attention to 
language as a prior question to setting an epistemological basis to natural philosophy, in 
turn enforcing a separation between word and meaning that put natural philosophers in 
direct control over their language. This revolution in language was also one of the key 
points of the new science hailed by members of Royal Society such as John Wilkins, who 
was appointed a treatise on a new philosophical and universal language. Other voices 
argued that gaining explicit control over language was the only way to free it from past 
misconceptions. The claim that science needed to formulate a theory of language able to 
underwrite scientists’ epistemic activity recurs right up until logical positivism.
At the same time, the Renaissance witnessed the struggle between Latin and the 
vernacular languages as means for the written codification of knowledge. From a 
dominant and hegemonic position, Latin gradually ceased being the only appropriate 
means for learned discourse, the vernaculars taking its place. Then, language critics 
displayed diverse arguments intertwining language with politics. In Germany, for 
instance, the main argument in linguistic change at the universities was the need of the 
introduction of a “new science” requiring a language distinct from scholastic Latin 
(Christian Wolff, Christian Thomasius), and thus not pervaded with scholastic ideas.
This conference focuses on the question of how the process of linguistic change was 
effected, perceived, and conducted by scientists. From the field of philosophical 
discussions, to the field of “language in use”, it is possible to pose crucial questions such 
as the following:
•       How has science sought to manage language through philosophical conceptions or 
rhetorical techniques to obtain particular goals, epistemic or otherwise? To what extent 
have scientists engaged in linguistic argumentation to criticize competing paradigms?
•       Has language been considered to be perfectly manageable? How have influences 
from e.g. other languages been coped with? Can it be said that linguistic purism relates 
only to alien words, or also to changing reality such as technology or geographical 
discoveries?
•       How has the communication of science been discussed in relation to both the 
“existing world” and the learned community? Has science been seen as corresponding 
more accurately with the “reality” (following Herder) if written in the national language of 
a community? How has the communication of discoveries with other scientists been 
perceived if this was the case? Which were the points of conflict between perfect 
translatability and innate and unique features of natural languages in this respect?
•       In what contexts have issues of language been raised and to what ends? Is it a 
purely philosophically-driven debate for the purpose of articulating science, or are 
political and social factors (co)responsible for the crises of languages commonly used in 
the past?
•       Who were the actors of linguistic change? Did scientists/natural philosophers play 
only a minor role, or did the impulses and crises of used languages come from other 
sources?
•       Did scientists try to develop their own definitions of language as competing with 
philosophical ones? How did the endeavors for perfection of language differ among 
different groups?

Postgraduates are particularly encouraged to submit proposals for twenty-minute papers. 
The language of the conference is English. The organizers plan to publish a selection of 
papers from this conference.
Please e-mail 300-word abstracts or proposals with a brief CV to Rocío Sumillera:
[log in to unmask]
by Monday, March 1st 2010.

Further contacts:
Johannes Feichtinger (Institute for Culture Studies and History of Theatre, Austrian 
Academy of Sciences): [log in to unmask]
Miles MacLeod (Konrad Lorenz Institut, Vienna): [log in to unmask]
Ekaterina Smirnova (Department of Political Science and Sociology, European University 
at St. Petersburg): [log in to unmask]
Jan Surman (History Department, University of Vienna / Center for Austrian Studies, 
University of Minnesota): [log in to unmask]