Stories They Lived By: Philosophy of History and Auto/Biography

Motto: ‘I am not as I was’ (Horace, Odes IV 1, 65-8 BC, Non sum qualis eram)

Stories expressed through words and objects are the key to understanding history. How people in the past crafted their narratives and interpreted their experiences, profoundly shapes our understanding of the past, present, and future. Our research group delves into the intricate interplay between personal memories and broader historical developments, which mutually shape the ever-changing diversity of cultures and identities. At the heart of our inquiry lies the recognition that stories are not merely adjuncts to history, but its very fabric. The core of this research group is focused on (empirical and theoretical) approaches of both life writing and (auto)biography, and theory and philosophy of history, including metahistorical reflection on personal histories as fundamental constructs of human consciousness. The group also seeks to discuss new possibilities to understand the past of hitherto underrepresented groups (illiterate cultures, women, children, disabled people, etc.). The written or narrative form of history is therefore considered as pivotal, but not an exclusive manifestation of humanity thinking about its own past.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Philosophy of History
• Autobiography, life writing, ego-documents
• Theory and method of biography
• Learning Histories
• History of Ideas: On Mentalities and Anthropology

Contact: Leonieke Vermeer; during semester I of 2023-2024 Babette Hellemans