Europa-Universität Flensburg, 16–19 June 2027
“Language abuse and language criticism in the history of linguistics / Sprachmissbrauch und Sprachkritik in der Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft / Abus des mots et critique du langage dans l’histoire de la linguistique”
From 16–19 June 2027, the international conference “Language abuse and language criticism in the history of linguistics” will take place at Europa-Universität Flensburg (EUF). Proposals for presentations may range from antiquity to the present day. Interdisciplinary topics are also very welcome.
Since Plato’s Cratylus, the problem of the antagonism between words and things has held a central position in theoretical and critical discussions of language. Against this backdrop, a heightened engagement with questions of language criticism and the theme of the ‘abuse of words’ developed particularly in 17th-century Europe. By introducing empiricism and its inductive-experimental character—in contrast to the axioms of Scholasticism—Bacon revolutionised modern scientific thought, whilst also paving the way for a massive linguistic scepticism, as he regarded language as an obstacle to the process of human knowledge.
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