Quest for knowledge in a world of politics:

Humboldtian Science Diplomacy and its pursuits

Autori

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18443/389

Parole chiave:

Science Diplomacy; Humboldtian science; Independence movement; Imperialism; Colonialism

Abstract

Alexander von Humboldt not only managed to navigate his scientific exploration voyages through different political contexts, also Humboldtian Science as such clearly contains political facets. In the regions he visited, his eyes were not merely set on a description of the natural world; his interests always included the socio-political conditions under which its inhabitants lived. What the cosmopolitan explorer envisioned was much more than an enterprise confined to advancing the borders of knowledge; his project also had social connotations in the broadest sense. Combining different areas of knowledge allowed him to obtain new insights, and with this acumen, he aimed to influence the course of societal development. In this sense, Humboldtian Science pursued an aim that can be seen as political: creating and using knowledge for human progress and pointing to social injustice, abuses, and corruption.

Biografia autore

Sandra Rebok, Center for US-Mexican Studies, University of California, San Diego

Dr. Sandra Rebok is a historian of science and has worked for many years at the History Institute of the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid. Currently she is an independent scholar and her research in Spain, Germany and the United States focuses on scholarly networks, the globalization of knowledge and transnational scientific collaborations during the nineteenth century. She has over twenty years of experience in Alexander von Humboldt scholarship; she is the author of several books and numerous articles on Humboldt, and the editor of three of his works in Spanish. In addition, she has many years of experience in the field of science communication and in particular curating exhibitions.

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Pubblicato

2025-07-23

Come citare

Rebok, S. (2025). Quest for knowledge in a world of politics:: Humboldtian Science Diplomacy and its pursuits. HiN - Alexander Von Humboldt Im Netz. Internationale Zeitschrift für Humboldt-Studien, 26(50), 189–201. https://doi.org/10.18443/389

Fascicolo

V. 26 N. 50 (2025)

Sezione

Articolo

Licenza

Copyright (c) 2025 Sandra Rebok

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