SCIENTIA conference

SCIENTIA conference - Call for papers

Non-expert dealings with science in the ancient and pre-modern Mediterranean

The sociology of science, including explorations of its audiences and the interactions with other knowledges and actors, has been an extremely productive area in the historiography of modern science in the last decades. The research group ‘SCIENTIA-Scientific Texts and Ideas in the pre-modern Mediterranean area’ (Universitat de Barcelona) aims to bring to the fore discussions of these topics in the domain of the ancient, medieval, and pre-modern sciences, in which historiography has been traditionally centered on authors. Papers are welcome on the variegated themes related to these issues, comprising (not exhaustively):

• demarcation of scientific and mathematical discourses by philosophical and religious scholars
• establishment of curricula
• circulation of specialized, scientific knowledge and works in more general milieux
• discussion of the epistemological value of scientific disciplines and subdisciplines
• interactions between science and literature
• degrees of specialization/vulgarization in ancient scientific texts
• scientific compendia
• scientific intrusion (unqualified scientists acting as such)
• satire and humor on scientific topics

Language: English

Place: University of Barcelona

Dates: 26-27 June 2025

Sending of abstracts: until November 30^th

Prospective speakers are asked to send a title and an abstract of up to 250 words to Cristian Tolsa (ctolsa@ub.edu). Please use the same address for requesting more information.

With the financial support of: