Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

Abstract Theorizing in interdisciplinary domains of the humanities and social sciences is considerably more demanding than disciplinary theorizing within these fields. Beyond a theoretical framework and research methodology—both indispensable for any form of theorizing—interdisciplinary theorizing requires a range of additional contextual, cognitive, cultural, and personal conditions. This article seeks to conceptualize and articulate these conditions as the requirements and preconditions of interdisciplinary theorizing. The central question guiding the study is: apart from theoretical frameworks and methods (which are not the focus of this article), what requirements and preconditions are necessary for interdisciplinary theorizing in the humanities and social sciences? The article classifies these requirements into four interrelated domains: scientific, cultural, cognitive, and personal. Scientific requirements pertain to principles governing knowledge production and research practices. Cultural requirements refer to institutionalized attitudes, dispositions, and modes of conduct that shape scholarly behavior and outlooks. Cognitive requirements encompass mental, linguistic, and intellectual capacities essential to theorizing. Personal requirements address the psychological traits, motivational orientations, and personality characteristics of the theorist. In this study, “requirements and preconditions” denote the capacities, competencies, and characteristics necessary for effective interdisciplinary theorizing. Methodologically, the research employs interpretive phenomenology and conceptual modeling.