Begriffsneufund

Begriffsneufund is a term used in philosophy of science and linguistics to denote the deliberate reconfiguration of a concept's criteria in response to new evidence, theoretical pressures, or cross-disciplinary integration. Rather than a mere rewording, Begriffsneufund implies a reconstruction of the concept's extension and its essential features, often involving a reassessment of necessary and sufficient conditions, border cases, and normative implications. The aim is to preserve explanatory power while avoiding unwarranted semantic drift.

Begriffsneufund combines Begriffs (concept) and Neufund (new-found discovery), reflecting a German-language coinage for a process of reconceptualization. In English discourse, it is usually translated as reconceptualization of a concept or a new-found definition.

In practice, Begriffsneufund occurs when existing definitions fail to capture novel phenomena, during paradigm shifts, or in interdisciplinary research where terms migrate between domains. Critics may warn against overreach or semantic inflation, while proponents argue it stabilizes theories by aligning terms with current evidence. It is often discussed alongside Begriffsklärung (concept clarification) and Begriffsverschiebung (conceptual shift).

In bioethics, the term "person" has been subjected to Begriffsneufund as moral status debates reflect new cognitive and social understandings; in information science, "data" and "information" have undergone reconceptualization as data governance and AI interpretivity evolve.

Begriffsneufund helps maintain coherence in rapidly changing fields and supports transparent discourse about scope and limits of theories. See also: Begriffsverschiebung, Begriffsklärung, reconceptualization.