Matthias Schemmel

Matthias Schemmel is a professor of historical epistemology at Universität Hamburg. He studies the historical development of structures of knowledge connected to the exact sciences in their cognitive, material, and social dimensions from both a long-term and a global perspective. The aim is to achieve an understanding of the place of scientific knowledge within human societies, specifically in regard to its epistemic status as well as its impact on society. In working toward this goal, he has pursued empirical, that is, source-based, research in different areas marked by important knowledge transformations. These areas are the emergence of theoretical science in ancient societies; transformations within the medieval and early modern European knowledge systems; the transfer of knowledge between cultures, particularly China and the West; and the reorganization of the knowledge of physics, astronomy, and their neighboring disciplines in the twentieth century.

A particular focus of his research is external, or material, representations of knowledge–such as manuscripts–and the role they play in the transmission and transformation of knowledge. In this context he also works on various digital editions of manuscripts and handwritten artifacts. Current research and teaching activities further pertain to the political dimension of science and the role of science in the Anthropocene.