The Nordic Society for the History of Ideas

The journal, Ideas in History, the website, ideasinhistory.org, and The Nordic Society for the History of Ideas are the result of a collaborative effort of more than thirty academic staff members engaged in teaching and research at nearly a dozen universities and colleges throughout the Nordic countries. The common purpose of these initiatives is to further awareness of research, resources, and activities in the field of intellectual history in the Nordic countries today.

The journal, Ideas in History, aims to introduce a Nordic and international readership to some of the fi nest articles written in the fi eld of intellectual history throughout the Nordic countries. By the end of 2007, our website will display all the major events, key personnel, and academic courses offered in our fi eld. The purpose of the website – as well as the society - is to create new meeting grounds, both virtual and physical, where the latest research in the fi eld can be presented, reviewed, and discussed openly between members of the Nordic community – irrespective of geographical, disciplinary or institutional boundaries.

Editorial notes on the profile of the journal, Ideas in History

In studying ideas in relation to their historical context we aim to achieve a broader comprehension of ideas than what is possible through semantic and syntactical analysis, or a mere materialistic historical approach. As a discipline in its own right, intellectual history is thus well suited to compliment – and at times challenge – other fields of intellectual inquiry.

The pursuit of historically situated knowledge has found numerous advocates from a wide range of academic disciplines. This has created new opportunities for fi nding relevant research, new areas of research, as well as a cross-disciplinary audience. Today we therefore see that a unique environment for dialogue exists between the various disciplinary divides. We believe that to facilitate and encourage this development is in line with the best of academic traditions. A pluralism of approaches and an increase in the historical contexts studied, will certainly further our historical knowledge and broaden our theoretical and methodological frame of mind. Ideas in History will therefore be open to all academics and intellectuals who are willing and able to investigate ideas in relation to their historical context.