sögufræðilegum

Sögufræðilegum is an Icelandic adjective derived from the noun "saga" meaning history or story, and "fræðilegum" meaning theoretical or academic. Therefore, sögufræðilegum can be translated as "historical-theoretical" or "historiographical." It refers to matters pertaining to the theory and methodology of history as a discipline, rather than history as a mere recounting of past events.

In academic discourse, the term sögufræðilegum is used to discuss how history is written, interpreted, and understood. It encompasses critical examinations of historical sources, the construction of historical narratives, the influence of philosophical ideas on historical inquiry, and the evolution of historical thinking itself. Scholars employing a sögufræðilegum approach might analyze the biases inherent in historical accounts, the political or social contexts that shape historical writing, or the different schools of thought that have emerged within historiography over time.

This concept is not unique to Icelandic scholarship; it aligns with the broader international academic field of historiography. When discussing Icelandic history, for example, a sögufræðilegum perspective would involve not just presenting the events of Iceland's past but also analyzing how those events have been documented, interpreted, and debated by historians, both within Iceland and abroad. It encourages a deeper, more critical engagement with the past and the ways in which we make sense of it.