Transversal perspectives

Transversal perspectives within the Cluster

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Transversal Perspective 1 (Theory, Methodology, Notions)

The first traversal perspective queries the theoretical and methodological foundations of transcultural philology. The focus of these considerations is on the diversity of historical practices of reading, writing, translating, and commentary, as well as on their institutional contexts. Our aim here is to develop a differentiated, pluralistic periodization that goes beyond Eurocentric models and opens up new perspectives on global knowledge configurations

Transversal Perspective 2 (Digital Humanities; Components and Methods)

The second transversal perspective is dedicated to the development and use of digital methods that can facilitate new connections within philology as a transcultural field of research. Key components include data management, methods of digitizing and modelling cultural artifacts, as well as AI-supported analyses of large text corpora. Such developments promise to reveal new possibilities for precisely capturing historical semantics, comparatively examining institutional contexts, and making philological practices globally accessible. At the same time, this perspective critically reflects on the tension between technological innovation and traditional working methods.

Transversal Perspective 3 (Novel History of Scholarship)

The third transversal perspective aims to develop a novel, practice-oriented history of scholarship. Rather than focusing on the established institutions of modernity, it examines diverse philological practices and their cultural, religious, and political contexts. Particular attention is paid to questions of diversity, exclusion, and the visibility of previously marginalized actors such as scribes, commentators, and translators. The result is a "bottom-up" history of philology that shows the way to new interdisciplinary perspectives on the dynamics of knowledge and historical processes.