Případ Hybeš
The case of Hybeš

Author(s): Lukáš Fasora
Subject(s): History, Methodology and research technology
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: history; methodology; Hybeš; historians;
Summary/Abstract: If I look at my own motives for something which the editors of this collection have called the Adventure of Historical Interpretation, then I can find four sources of inspiration. The first is the increasing tendency to create works which are, according to the current Czech methodology for evaluating science, ‘socially relevant’. In other words, works which meet the social demands that exist today. Although the methodology defines these demands as coming mainly from the commercial sector or public institutions, I see them as a link to the current discourse reflected in, for example, films and political debate. I would never intentionally write a book that no-one would be interested in and which I would defend on academic grounds as being basic research, while simultaneously being well aware of the limits of its impact. The second impulse comes from the tradition of historiography and the simple need to tell a story – in my case, mainly about people, institutions and relationships. I believe that such an approach is expected from historians, it is rewarding to meet this expectation as it is a reader-friendly approach, it gives the work order and I also happen to enjoy it. It is exciting to follow the twists and turns of the story’s journey in the detective-like investigation of the sources. And then the third impulse: it already feels like a slightly conservative attitude but the informative value of the source is of great importance to me. The source has the right of veto.

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