Problemy narracji historycznej. Dyskusje na Powszechnych Zjazdach Historyków Polskich (do 1939 r.)

Abstract

General Conventions of Polish Historians used to be, and still are, prestigious events in the academic life of the historian circles. Until 1939, representatives of Klio convened six times. At the congresses, 350 papers were presented which served as a kind of instrument recording the state of Polish historical thought. Post-congress materials show that during the period in focus, in the Polish philosophy of history a vital turn towards European academic canons took place. Historians were more and more occupied with theoretical and methodological problems. In the years 1880-1939, Polish philosophy of history oscillates between methodological directives of mainly German and French historical thought, and the temptation of social and political polemics. Among the contemporary historians there were people who confessed adherence to new methodological standards and who at the same time were subject to pressure of some ideologies, national or social movements. Generally, Polish historians kept their sobriety, being sometimes even too cautious about some “latest news”, but when it came to serious matters and sound methodological approaches, they remained open-minded. They could not only afford critique of competitive research theories, but they were also able to juxtapose their own innovative views. Researchers who started their career about 1900 showed particular sensitivity to those phenomena.