The research team of the project “History of Adaptation” seaks shared understanding of key concepts centred around four research perspectives: 1) long-term development and ancient historical roots of contemporary adaptation strategies that build on memory, tradition, respect for historicity, recognising the relatively recent emergence of the concept of cultural heritage and its protection; 2) the city as a dominant social framework, e.g. from the perspective of commodified historicity; 3) the politics of expertise and power, focusing on the relationships between the production of knowledge and governance, the growing importance and adaption of the role of experts and technocrats in the professionalisation of social management as well; 4) the emic perspective of contemporary social actors – individuals or groups. In the first part of the article, the authors outline these four perspectives, while in the latter part, organized as a roundtable, they situate the key concepts in the context of their disciplines and open a discussion to be continued throughout the project.