Vol. 10 (2025): Narrative und Anekdoten in der Wissenschaft

Narratives and anecdotes are not only omnipresent in everyday life, they are also found in the sciences, where they fulfill a number of different functions. At the same time, there is relatively little specialist literature on this topic: these types of stories are generally accepted as a matter of course and are not investigated further, even though they not only impart knowledge to us, but can also mislead us. In this yearbook, contributions from a wide array of sciences examine the possibilities and limitations of narratives and anecdotes. The focus is on two topics: on the one hand, the advantages and disadvantages of using these genres in generating and communicating knowledge in the sciences, and on the other hand, their characteristics and functions in literature, economics, politics, and other areas of society. As this volume makes clear, stories—including myths—fulfill a number of important functions; at the same time, caution is advised when dealing with narratives, as they are often considered fact-based and appropriate, but frequently reflect a one-sided view of the world.