This document discusses enabling a computational turn in the history of ideas by using digital tools and methods. It provides an example case study of creating a computational history of ideas through topic modeling of digitized texts. The methodology proposes building some interpretation into the computational tools from the start while making those interpretations explicit, and balancing existing knowledge with discovery. Challenges include addressing criticisms of the discipline of history of ideas. The goal is developing a sound methodology for computational analysis to have broader impact through smart digital infrastructure.

1. Enabling the RevolutionOr prospects for & challenges of a sound computational
turn elucidated by an example from the history of ideas
@ariannabetti (UvA/ILLC)

2. Success
Sound methodology
2
Impact
Smart infrastructure

3. Case
Creating a Computational History of Ideas

4. Case
Creating a Computational History of Ideas
Methodology
Models in the History of Ideas

5. Case
Creating a Computational History of Ideas
Methodology
Models in the History of Ideas
Challenge
History of Ideas as a discipline

6. Case
Creating a Computational History of Ideas

7. Structure of
Euclid´s
Elements
(ca. 300 BC)

8. From: Raymond Llull, Arbor
Scientiae
(13th century)

9. D. Zeller,
Hypothetical
Model of the
Evolution and
Structure of
Science (2007)

10. 10
Concepts in Motion
¢ The idea of science has changed through
time.
£ When and Where did these changes take
place?
£ Who started disagreeing?
£ Who influenced whom?

11. Traditionalmethods
one concept,
one author,
one text…

13. 2 0 1 3
30 milliondigitised
books

14. Topic modelling in
Martha Ballard’s Diary
(1785-1812)
1. house work clear knit wk
home wool removd washing
kinds pickt helping banking
chips taxes picking cleaning
pikt pails
2. home clear washt baked
cloaths helped washing wash
girls pies cleand things room
bak kitchen ironed apple
seller scolt
COMPUTERmethods

15. Methodology
Models in the History of Ideas

16. Philosopher’s stone?
¢ build a certain well-delimited
amount of interpretation in the
tools from the offset;
¢ work closely with
computational experts to set up
these very tools

17. ¢ build a certain well-delimited
amount of interpretation in the
tools from the offset;
£ make your interpretation
explicit!
£ balance between framing
existing knowledge and
allowing discovery
¢ work closely with
computational experts to set up
these very tools
Philosopher’s stone?

18. ¢ build a certain well-delimited
amount of interpretation in the
tools from the offset;
£ make your interpretation
explicit!
£ balance between framing
existing knowledge and
allowing discovery
˜ For this, use models!
¢ work closely with
computational experts to set up
these very tools
Philosopher’s stone?

19. go to http://twitter.com/ariannabetti
click on the CLARIAH link
keep the handout open on your screen

20. " Structure
of Euclid´s
Elements
(ca. 300 BC)

21. idea a = a1a2a3a4
core
a1a2a3a4
a1a2_a4
_a2_a3
margins
stability
change
replacement

22. Tarski’s Revolution: A New History
ERC Starting Grant, 2008-2013
¢ History of the methodology of the deductive sciences +
biology (history-of-ideas approach)
£ traced the development of concepts (1740-1940)
˜ mathematical/logical e.g. axiom, consequence /
grounding / explanation, variable, truth, domain

23. ERC: Main Hypothesis
Bolzano
Frege Tarski’s
revolution
1837 1879
Lesniewski
1920s early 1930s
specific way in which Tarski
understood truth
in the context of an axiomatic
ideal of science

24. Alfred Tarski
The concept of truth in the
languages of the
deductive sciences
(1929-1933)
Stanisław Leśniewski,
Fundamentals of a New
System of the Foundations
of Mathematics
(1929)

25. Alfred Tarski
The concept of truth in the
languages of the
deductive sciences
(1929-1933)
Stanisław Leśniewski,
Fundamentals of a New
System of the Foundations
of Mathematics
(1929)
taught

26. (1)
(2a, b)
(3a, b)
(4)
(5)
[6]
[7]
(1)
(2a, b)
(3a, b)
(4)
(5)
[6]
[7]

27. Eigentliche Wissenschaft kann nur
diejenige genannt werden,
deren Gewissheit apodiktisch
ist; Erkenntnis, die bloß
empirische Gewissheit
enthalten kann, ist ein nur
uneigentlich so genanntes
Wissen. Dasjenige Ganze der
Erkenntnis, was systematisch ist,
kann schon darum Wissenschaft
heißen und wenn die
Verknüpfung der Erkenntnis in
diesem System ein
Zusammenhang von Gründen
und Folgen ist, sogar rationale
Wissenschaft. (AA 4: 468)
Die “eigentlichen” Wissen-
schaften zerfielen dann in
apriorische Wissenschaften
und in angewandte, in
empirische, aber durchaus
aus a priorischen Prinzipien
“erklärende“ und sich selbst
rechtfertigende. In allen
eigentlichen Wissenschaften
herrschte volkommene , d.i.,
denkbar größte Rationalität
[…]
Einleitung in die Philosophie:
296-297.
Kant 1786 Husserl 1922-23

28. A newspaper is better than a magazine / A seashore is
a better place than the street / At first, it is better to
run than to walk / You may have to try several times /
It takes some skill but it's easy to learn / Even young
children can enjoy it / Once successful, complications
are minimal / Birds seldom get too close / Rain
however, soaks in very fast / Too many people doing
the same thing can also cause problems / One needs
lots of room / If there are no complications, it can be
very peaceful / A rock will serve as an anchor / If
things break loose from it, however, you will not get a
second chance. (Bransford & Johnson 1972)

29. Huh?A newspaper is better than a magazine / A seashore is
a better place than the street / At first, it is better to
run than to walk / You may have to try several times /
It takes some skill but it's easy to learn / Even young
children can enjoy it / Once successful, complications
are minimal / Birds seldom get too close / Rain
however, soaks in very fast / Too many people doing
the same thing can also cause problems / One needs
lots of room / If there are no complications, it can be
very peaceful / A rock will serve as an anchor / If
things break loose from it, however, you will not get a
second chance. (Bransford & Johnson 1972)

30. Making and flying a kite!
A newspaper is better than a magazine / A seashore is
a better place than the street / At first, it is better to
run than to walk / You may have to try several times /
It takes some skill but it's easy to learn / Even young
children can enjoy it / Once successful, complications
are minimal / Birds seldom get too close / Rain
however, soaks in very fast / Too many people doing
the same thing can also cause problems / One needs
lots of room / If there are no complications, it can be
very peaceful / A rock will serve as an anchor / If
things break loose from it, however, you will not get a
second chance. (Bransford & Johnson 1972)

31. Challenge
History of Ideas as a discipline

32. Four Objections to Lovejoy
i holism Spitzer, Hintikka
ii conceptual change Mink
iii scope Bevir
iv arbitrariness & biases Skinner

33. Success
Sound methodology
33
Impact
Smart infrastructure

34. http://ticclops.clarin.inl.nl/philostei/

35. Enabling the RevolutionOr prospects for & challenges of a sound computational
turn elucidated by an example from the history of ideas
@ariannabetti (UvA/ILLC)