Scholarly & Social Meeting: professor Gábor Gyáni, "Historians and the postmodern skepticism"

Type: 
Lecture
Audience: 
CEU Community Only
Building: 
Nador u. 11
Room: 
Hanak
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 5:30pm
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Date: 
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm

We are pleased to invite you to the third History Department Scholarly & Social Meeting, which will take place next Thursday, March 3, in Hanák Room, starting at 17:30.

The aim of the Scholarly-Social Meetings is to provide insights into the research undertaken at our department, and they also represent an opportunity to bring our students and faculty together in an effort to establish an academic community reaching beyond the day-to-day academic activities.

The meeting will begin with a presentation by professor Gábor Gyáni , entitled "Historians and the postmodern skepticism," followed by a discussion, and will continue with an informal socializing of students and faculty in Spájz Kocsma (in the VI. District, not far from CEU). We advise all students not to miss this opportunity to meet and talk with the speaker, faculty members, and fellow students.

In the upcoming events we will be hosting professors: István Rév (March 17) and Constantin Iordachi (March 24).

Program:

17:30 - 18:15: Presentation by professor Gábor Gyáni, entitled "Historians and the postmodern skepticism."

You can find an abstract of the talk at the end of this message.

Place: Hanák Room (Nádor 11, 2nd floor)

18:15 - 18:50: Discussion

19:00 - open end: Drinks and informal meeting of students and faculty.

Place: Spájz Kocsma (Lázár utca 7, see the link below).

We are looking forward to seeing you all,

Constantin Iordachi

(Head of Department)

Luka Lisjak Gabrijelčič

Uku Lember

Matthias Riedl

Piotr Wciślik

Jan Bröker

(Organizers) 

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Abstract:

Gábor Gyáni

Historians and the postmodern skepticism

Theory is essential to the practice of history. In condemning theory on the grounds that it takes universal claim is thus to fall into a performative contradiction – one that denies the philosophical assumption underlying history's own claim to autonomy. Practising historians in their response to the challenge of postmodern epistemology, may choose among various alternatives. They may automatically reject any kinds of theorization. This seems to be the most preferred practise. There are who insist on advancing the so called middle-ground position in which some concessions are made, although the skeptical epistemology of postmodernism is wholly refused. A few historians, however, make an attempt of adapting several insights especially of the narrativist theory and some other postmodernist concepts as well.

***

For the location of Spajz Kocsma, you can consult the map on their website:

http://www.aspajz.hu/terkep.htm