The society for the history of human thought 

A global community of scholars since 1994.

The International Society for Intellectual History (ISIH) organises regular international conferences, publishes the Intellectual History Review, supports Early Career Researchers and publishes news from across the field.

We embrace a wide variety of approaches, methods, and disciplinary perspectives and are truly international in our membership. Join today!

What is intellectual history?

Intellectual history is the study of ideas and intellectual patterns over time.

It is a broad subject, addressing the history of philosophy, religion, science, scholarship, anthropology, technology, the book, psychology and the social sciences, and other relevant intellectual formations.

Find out more about intellectual history

Why join the Society?

If you are working in the history of philosophy, theology, and scholarship; the history of science, medicine, and technology; the history of legal and political thought; the history of literature, the visual arts, and music…then ISIH is for you!

Enquire about membership

Latest news

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  • 2023 British Society for the History of Philosophy (BSHP) Graduate Essay Prize

    The 2023 British Society for the History of Philosophy (BSHP) Graduate Essay Prize competition is now open for submissions between 1 and 30 November. The prize of £1000 is awarded annually to the writer of an essay that makes a significant contribution to the history of philosophy. The competition is open to all graduate students, anywhere…

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  • Max Weber Fellowships, European University Institute, Florence

    Deadline: 18 October 2023 The Max Weber Programme (MWP) at the European University Institute (EUI) is a unique postdoctoral programme in the historical and social sciences in Europe. It is open to applicants who are within 5 years from the completion of their PhD, from anywhere in the world, regardless of nationality. The Programme is…

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  • Women in Intellectual History programme, winter 2023/24

    The International Society for Intellectual History is pleased to announce the programme for papers of the third instalment our seminar series, Women in Intellectual History, which will take place online in winter 2023/24. To register and to receive the link to the Teams meeting, please complete this form.

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  • Stephen Gaukroger (1950–2023)

    It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Stephen Gaukroger, who passed away on 3 September 2023. Stephen was an eminent intellectual historian and historian of science who was an active member of the Society since its early years. Stephen was amongst those who, in 1994, encouraged our founder,…

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