The Russian ontology
The language used in literature and public discourse is not just a mirror of society, it is part of its very structure. By the tracing historical frequencies of certain key words and expressions in Russian texts, we can uncover patterns that reflect the deeper cultural, ideological and psychological shifts in Russian society. What do these linguistic trends reveal about Russia’s past, present and possible future?
Quantitative, artificial intelligence-based methods can be fruitful also in the humanities. In order to conduct research, one needs, though, an a priori formulated theory, what is in AI research referred to as an ontology, in order to know what to search for. It does not mean that AI research in any field is limited to a priori formulated principles; it usually yields results and formulates new concepts which go far beyond the theory formulated in the first place.
Quantitative, artificial intelligence-based methods can be fruitful also in the humanities. In order to conduct research, one needs, though, an a priori formulated theory, what is in AI research referred to as an ontology, in order to know what to search for. It does not mean that AI research in any field is limited to a priori formulated principles; it usually yields results and formulates new concepts which go far beyond the theory formulated in the first place.
July 8, 2025 - David Hallbeck
