Nauka historii na początku XXI wieku. Esej
The science of history at the beginning of the XXI century. Essay

Summary/Abstract: The science of history, not only in Poland, faces serious dilemmas at the beginning of the 21st century, there being no indications that, similarly to its past status especially in the 19th century, it can aspire to the role of one of the major factors of social consciousness. Following the liberation (by far inconsistent and often mistrusted) of history as a science from rendering undue services of a non-pertinent nature it experienced and still does, erosive influences exerted by numerous theoretical trends and currents that put into question the validity and genuineness of the scientific character of history. Enormous progress in the field of heuristics and research organization (the latter disputable at times) does not always yield the expected fruits. The essay focuses on the ‘‘external’’ conditions and manifestations of the science of history in Poland, both of a positive and negative nature, only briefly touching upon some current research proposals. Then, on the example of medieval studies the author presents the current problems and achievements of this science, to show among others that many of the postulates and expectations of contemporary methodology and theory of history are actually realized in medieval studies. The concluding part brings reflections of a more general nature on the issue of contemporary place and tasks of the science of history.

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