Abstract

The contributions of this volume discuss the usability of the concept of "pluralization" as the guiding concept for analyzing the early modern era. The first meaning of pluralization is the increase of the representations of reality which are relevant in an area of life and culture; furthermore this term expresses the emergence of "new" and/or alternative knowledge and the development of competitive partial realities. These have to be coordinated or mediated with each other. The contributions and case studies of this volume analyze this process and give important impulses for fundamental research on the early modern era. Key features: Basic methodological contributions on research on the early modern era The volume analyzes an important paradigm of the history of ideas from 1500 on Written by a team of internationally renowned experts.