Knowledge Actors: Revisiting Agency in the History of Knowledge

Knowledge Actors emphasizes the importance of historical actors and re-engages with their actions from fresh perspectives, fostering a larger discussion among historians of knowledge about the role of knowledge actors. It is the third volume in a trilogy about the history of knowledge from the Lund Centre for the History of Knowledge (LUCK).

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2023
Publisher: Nordic Academic Press

Knowledge actors play a vital role in the history of knowledge, just as they do in all areas of historical scholarship. Every country and era has its own biographies of eminent scientists, intellectuals, and educational reformers. However, since the 1960s, theoretical currents in historical and sociological studies of knowledge have placed greater emphasis on structures than actors, collectives over individuals. Knowledge Actors, on the other hand, emphasizes the significance of historical actors and re-engages with their actions from fresh perspectives.

The objective of this volume is to foster a more extensive discussion among historians of knowledge about the role of knowledge actors. It raises questions such as whether we should prioritize individuals and networks in our research narratives and, if so, which ones we should highlight and how we should approach our research. It also explores the potential pitfalls of pursuing an actor-centric trajectory.

This third volume in a trilogy about the history of knowledge from the Lund Centre for the History of Knowledge (LUCK) contributes to the ongoing exploration of the complex and multifaceted nature of knowledge and its transmission throughout history.

Dimension: 203 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789189361652