Suchergebnisse

Book science has old and deep traditions in Lithuania. At the beginning of the 19th century book science has become the object of scientific discussions not only in Europe but also in Lithuania. There are two main periods of book science – primary and theoretical. It is important also to take note of period of modern book science which has been developing from 1990. The science and its creators have significant achievements which should be summed up. The object of this work is Lithuanian book science from the beginning of the 19th century to these days. The purpose is to show the maturity of book science and its role in the general context of sciences system of Lithuania. The main tasks are: to analyse the activity of the most important and significant institutions which are forming the organization ant structure of book science; to analyse the continuous publication "Knygotyra" and international conferences of book science which are organized in Lithuania; to bring out the foremost creators of Lithuanian book science and to show the main ideas and conceptions which were dominating in their studies as well alternation of that ideas and conceptions in particular period by appealing to their studies; to sum up the state of modern book science and show the factors conditioning it. There were used the methods of analysis of published and not published sources, historiographical, comparative, statistical analysis of data, bibliographical and estimation of experts methods in this work. There was come to the conclusion that the leaders of science schools have had the most influence on development of Lithuanian book science. Their alternation has prompted alterations of ranges and methodological solutions of conception, structure and object of research of book science, at once the advance of science. The activity of pioneers of book science Joachimas Lelewelis and Aleksandras Wiktoras Bohatkiewiczius has been important in primary period of development of book science. There can be accentuated the schools of two scientists – Vaclovas Biržiška and Levas Vladimirovas – in the development of theoretical book science. The school of modern book science has formed under the influence of the said scientists. Each school has special brands. The strong tendency of continuity of science traditions and main ideas allows speak about forming the school of wider dimension – national school. Important features which proclaim the existence of school are the following: formed institutional system of book science and its purposeful activity; publishing of continuous publication "Knygotyra"; organization of yearly international conferences of book science; publication of fundamental studies; creation of theoretical opinions resumptive studies; working of postgraduate and doctoral studies of book science; recognition of research results abroad. The alternation of named features in point of quality and quantity as well the increase of complex of these features leads towards substantiation of proposition that book science is mature science. The increase of collective of scientists, rational planning of research work, wideness and modernization of field of range of book science research problems, inducement of advance of book science internationally and role of Lithuanian book science how leader in neighbour Baltic states are the identificators of maturity of science also. Attribution to underlying lithuanistical research and received sponsorship for pursued research works and projects of publishing by programmes which are realized by government of the state reflect the role of book science in the general context of sciences system in Lithuania best. The importance and role of book science have been increasing in culture of Lithuania of late years especially. The traditional and the new researches of book science expand importantly and guarantee the sphere of knowledge and succession of state's cultural heritage.

Book science has old and deep traditions in Lithuania. At the beginning of the 19th century book science has become the object of scientific discussions not only in Europe but also in Lithuania. There are two main periods of book science – primary and theoretical. It is important also to take note of period of modern book science which has been developing from 1990. The science and its creators have significant achievements which should be summed up. The object of this work is Lithuanian book science from the beginning of the 19th century to these days. The purpose is to show the maturity of book science and its role in the general context of sciences system of Lithuania. The main tasks are: to analyse the activity of the most important and significant institutions which are forming the organization ant structure of book science; to analyse the continuous publication "Knygotyra" and international conferences of book science which are organized in Lithuania; to bring out the foremost creators of Lithuanian book science and to show the main ideas and conceptions which were dominating in their studies as well alternation of that ideas and conceptions in particular period by appealing to their studies; to sum up the state of modern book science and show the factors conditioning it. There were used the methods of analysis of published and not published sources, historiographical, comparative, statistical analysis of data, bibliographical and estimation of experts methods in this work. There was come to the conclusion that the leaders of science schools have had the most influence on development of Lithuanian book science. Their alternation has prompted alterations of ranges and methodological solutions of conception, structure and object of research of book science, at once the advance of science. The activity of pioneers of book science Joachimas Lelewelis and Aleksandras Wiktoras Bohatkiewiczius has been important in primary period of development of book science. There can be accentuated the schools of two scientists – Vaclovas Biržiška and Levas Vladimirovas – in the development of theoretical book science. The school of modern book science has formed under the influence of the said scientists. Each school has special brands. The strong tendency of continuity of science traditions and main ideas allows speak about forming the school of wider dimension – national school. Important features which proclaim the existence of school are the following: formed institutional system of book science and its purposeful activity; publishing of continuous publication "Knygotyra"; organization of yearly international conferences of book science; publication of fundamental studies; creation of theoretical opinions resumptive studies; working of postgraduate and doctoral studies of book science; recognition of research results abroad. The alternation of named features in point of quality and quantity as well the increase of complex of these features leads towards substantiation of proposition that book science is mature science. The increase of collective of scientists, rational planning of research work, wideness and modernization of field of range of book science research problems, inducement of advance of book science internationally and role of Lithuanian book science how leader in neighbour Baltic states are the identificators of maturity of science also. Attribution to underlying lithuanistical research and received sponsorship for pursued research works and projects of publishing by programmes which are realized by government of the state reflect the role of book science in the general context of sciences system in Lithuania best. The importance and role of book science have been increasing in culture of Lithuania of late years especially. The traditional and the new researches of book science expand importantly and guarantee the sphere of knowledge and succession of state's cultural heritage.

First steps of the heritage preservation in Lithuania are penetrated in 19th century. Greater interest in cultural heritage, its comprehension and preservation among eggheads it is noticed namely then. So, the system of heritage preservation is comparably a young sphere, which momentarily day-after-day infiltrates into a social life and becomes integrant. Cultural heritage preservation topicalities are more frequently examined presently by the mass media. Unfortunately, not enough attention is paid to fountainhead of the cultural heritage, as well as to pathfinders-romanticists who worked in this field fascinated by Vilnius region cultural heritage and envisaged its historical, ethnic and ideological significance. Science Society of Lithuania (further – SSL) and Vilnius science mates' union (VSMU) in the field of heritage preservation have commanded notably. Societies were established in 1907 and functioned in parallel during the whole inter-war period. Goals and activity fields of both societies were alike. Members of both societies actively and enthusiastically attempted to retain the cultural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). And only at the beginning of 20th century when Lithuania under influence of political situation was divided into two camps, an artificial contrariety aroused between them, as is known from the correspondence of the societies. Works of SSL attained more attention of the Lithuania's historiography than works of VSMU. Documents, activity reports which are secured in State historical archives of Lithuania provide a lot of information about SSL. Iconography gathered by VSMU and used by latter-day professionals is very precious. VSMU activity protecting art heritage is described in Laima Laučkaitė's monograph. The circumstances of Union museum's foundation and destiny of the West Europe paintings' collection were investigated by Jolanta Širkaitė. Information about excavation, restoration and preservation works of Vilnius upper castle and Trakai Island and the Peninsula castles can be found in Napoleonas Kitkauskas and Stasys Mikulionis monographs. VSMU was established and guided by Alfonsas Parčevskis, Dr. Vladislavas Zahorskis, Jonas Kurčevskis. According the sustained regulations, the Union's activity may be divided into 2 periods: 1907-1921 and 1922-1941. From the starting point VSMU particularly took care of the preservation of main GDL heritage objects – the Vilnius upper and Trakai Island and the Peninsula castles. It was the initial VSMU goals of greater significance and extent, realization of them stretched through the whole Union's existence, and at the end of 20th century attained flashpoint. Research and preservation works of the castles of Trakai were highly appreciated by posterior heritage preservation experts (Stasys Mikulionis, Jonas Glemža). VSMU works on this object allowed the later investigators to rebuild the lost beauty of Trakai Island and the Peninsula castles, while the culture workers adjusted them to the museum, educational and tourist use. The date of Vilnius upper castle buildings' construction was identified during the exploration of the object by VSMU. Archeological excavations of E. and V. Holubovič were the first bulk jobs on the Castle hill. The findings provided information about the habitants' living conditions, the origin of the first wooden buildings, and helped to identify the evolution periods of the castle. The short analysis of VSMU activities and nowadays conception highlights the same problem – the instability of the Castle hill flank's ground. It is VSMU merit that we can admire and boast of GDL Trakai and Vilnius cities defensive architecture. Exactly these GDT heritage objects introduce our country to the world and attract our guests by their Gothic shape.

First steps of the heritage preservation in Lithuania are penetrated in 19th century. Greater interest in cultural heritage, its comprehension and preservation among eggheads it is noticed namely then. So, the system of heritage preservation is comparably a young sphere, which momentarily day-after-day infiltrates into a social life and becomes integrant. Cultural heritage preservation topicalities are more frequently examined presently by the mass media. Unfortunately, not enough attention is paid to fountainhead of the cultural heritage, as well as to pathfinders-romanticists who worked in this field fascinated by Vilnius region cultural heritage and envisaged its historical, ethnic and ideological significance. Science Society of Lithuania (further – SSL) and Vilnius science mates' union (VSMU) in the field of heritage preservation have commanded notably. Societies were established in 1907 and functioned in parallel during the whole inter-war period. Goals and activity fields of both societies were alike. Members of both societies actively and enthusiastically attempted to retain the cultural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). And only at the beginning of 20th century when Lithuania under influence of political situation was divided into two camps, an artificial contrariety aroused between them, as is known from the correspondence of the societies. Works of SSL attained more attention of the Lithuania's historiography than works of VSMU. Documents, activity reports which are secured in State historical archives of Lithuania provide a lot of information about SSL. Iconography gathered by VSMU and used by latter-day professionals is very precious. VSMU activity protecting art heritage is described in Laima Laučkaitė's monograph. The circumstances of Union museum's foundation and destiny of the West Europe paintings' collection were investigated by Jolanta Širkaitė. Information about excavation, restoration and preservation works of Vilnius upper castle and Trakai Island and the Peninsula castles can be found in Napoleonas Kitkauskas and Stasys Mikulionis monographs. VSMU was established and guided by Alfonsas Parčevskis, Dr. Vladislavas Zahorskis, Jonas Kurčevskis. According the sustained regulations, the Union's activity may be divided into 2 periods: 1907-1921 and 1922-1941. From the starting point VSMU particularly took care of the preservation of main GDL heritage objects – the Vilnius upper and Trakai Island and the Peninsula castles. It was the initial VSMU goals of greater significance and extent, realization of them stretched through the whole Union's existence, and at the end of 20th century attained flashpoint. Research and preservation works of the castles of Trakai were highly appreciated by posterior heritage preservation experts (Stasys Mikulionis, Jonas Glemža). VSMU works on this object allowed the later investigators to rebuild the lost beauty of Trakai Island and the Peninsula castles, while the culture workers adjusted them to the museum, educational and tourist use. The date of Vilnius upper castle buildings' construction was identified during the exploration of the object by VSMU. Archeological excavations of E. and V. Holubovič were the first bulk jobs on the Castle hill. The findings provided information about the habitants' living conditions, the origin of the first wooden buildings, and helped to identify the evolution periods of the castle. The short analysis of VSMU activities and nowadays conception highlights the same problem – the instability of the Castle hill flank's ground. It is VSMU merit that we can admire and boast of GDL Trakai and Vilnius cities defensive architecture. Exactly these GDT heritage objects introduce our country to the world and attract our guests by their Gothic shape.

Evaluation of the performance of science parks is an important topic in the context of Lithuania. The research object is the evaluation of Science and Technology Parks System in the contexts of the national innovation system and global competitiveness. In this work the general characteristics of the holistic innovation system model and new factors of competitiveness are identified, evaluation criteria are formed and a model to evaluate the competitiveness of Science and Technology Parks is created, which allows the use of these evaluation criteria in practice. This is the first time when Science and Technology Parks System in Lithuania has been examined as an inseparable element of the national innovation system, acting in complex political, economical and socio-cultural contexts. The evaluation criteria formulated allow wider observation of parks' current social functions to relate them to other state politics implemented, thus avoiding the duplication of funding and measures.

Evaluation of the performance of science parks is an important topic in the context of Lithuania. The research object is the evaluation of Science and Technology Parks System in the contexts of the national innovation system and global competitiveness. In this work the general characteristics of the holistic innovation system model and new factors of competitiveness are identified, evaluation criteria are formed and a model to evaluate the competitiveness of Science and Technology Parks is created, which allows the use of these evaluation criteria in practice. This is the first time when Science and Technology Parks System in Lithuania has been examined as an inseparable element of the national innovation system, acting in complex political, economical and socio-cultural contexts. The evaluation criteria formulated allow wider observation of parks' current social functions to relate them to other state politics implemented, thus avoiding the duplication of funding and measures.

The subject of the Master's Thesis is the digitalization of cultural heritage in public libraries. The purpose of the Master's Thesis is the establishment of new possibilities of dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment of public libraries. With a view to achieving the established purposes, the Master's Thesis tackles the following tasks: overview of the policy of the digitalized cultural policy in Europe and Lithuania, survey of European best practices related with the dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment, examination of the Lithuanian public libraries' capacity for presentation the digitalized cultural heritage, description of a number of digitalization features in public libraries. Digitalization is a new method of cultural heritage management that includes not only organization processes but also the diversity and forms of the provided services. The last decade is known for the revolution in the way cultural heritage is managed. Cultural heritage management initiatives are closely related with the attempts to develop a common European information environment. The year 2001 saw the formulation of the Lund principles have urged the European Commission and EU member states to undertake the coordination of digitalization of and provision of access to cultural heritage. Having identified the drawbacks in digitalization and public delivery of cultural heritage and having established the ways of eliminating these drawbacks, specific actions have been undertaken. Quite a few projects on the participation of local cultural heritage institutions in the process of digitalization, e.g. Pulman, Calimera, etc., were initiated and completed. In 2005, Lithuania joined the EU initiatives related with digitalization in order to coordinate the national activities in the area of cultural heritage digitalization. In summer of 2005, the Ministry of Culture and Science approved the Lithuanian Concept of Cultural Heritage Digitalization. A lot of initiatives related with digitalization are currently implemented or had been already implemented, however, the access to the digital cultural content has been as yet fragmentary. The digitalization in Europe is influenced by a number of financial, organizational, technical and legal difficulties. It is possible to find excellent best practices related with partnership in the electronic environment of European public libraries that provide the global customer with digital sources of national cultural heritage in the electronic environment. Implementation of the new information technologies and provision of access to virtual information sources has been recently started by the Lithuanian public libraries and has been slowly gaining momentum. Therefore, only 36 out of 65 public libraries provide the customer with digital cultural heritage and ethnographic information. Digital information of the cultural heritage content is provided by the libraries in a variety of forms such as Internet portals, data bases, full-text documents, virtual exhibitions. Lithuanian public libraries should exploit the new possibilities of disseminating ethnographic information more actively because they are opened up an opportunity to participate in international initiatives on cultural heritage management in the electronic environment. Lithuanian public libraries should establish cooperation with other partners from the local cultural sector such as museums and archives. The partnership with other stakeholders would enable public libraries to accumulate financial, organizational and other resources. Projects implemented by the European libraries raised a wealth of problems that are encountered in the process of digitalization. Not every library may boast of the expertise in this area, therefore, Lithuanian libraries should draw on the accumulated experience.

The subject of the Master's Thesis is the digitalization of cultural heritage in public libraries. The purpose of the Master's Thesis is the establishment of new possibilities of dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment of public libraries. With a view to achieving the established purposes, the Master's Thesis tackles the following tasks: overview of the policy of the digitalized cultural policy in Europe and Lithuania, survey of European best practices related with the dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment, examination of the Lithuanian public libraries' capacity for presentation the digitalized cultural heritage, description of a number of digitalization features in public libraries. Digitalization is a new method of cultural heritage management that includes not only organization processes but also the diversity and forms of the provided services. The last decade is known for the revolution in the way cultural heritage is managed. Cultural heritage management initiatives are closely related with the attempts to develop a common European information environment. The year 2001 saw the formulation of the Lund principles have urged the European Commission and EU member states to undertake the coordination of digitalization of and provision of access to cultural heritage. Having identified the drawbacks in digitalization and public delivery of cultural heritage and having established the ways of eliminating these drawbacks, specific actions have been undertaken. Quite a few projects on the participation of local cultural heritage institutions in the process of digitalization, e.g. Pulman, Calimera, etc., were initiated and completed. In 2005, Lithuania joined the EU initiatives related with digitalization in order to coordinate the national activities in the area of cultural heritage digitalization. In summer of 2005, the Ministry of Culture and Science approved the Lithuanian Concept of Cultural Heritage Digitalization. A lot of initiatives related with digitalization are currently implemented or had been already implemented, however, the access to the digital cultural content has been as yet fragmentary. The digitalization in Europe is influenced by a number of financial, organizational, technical and legal difficulties. It is possible to find excellent best practices related with partnership in the electronic environment of European public libraries that provide the global customer with digital sources of national cultural heritage in the electronic environment. Implementation of the new information technologies and provision of access to virtual information sources has been recently started by the Lithuanian public libraries and has been slowly gaining momentum. Therefore, only 36 out of 65 public libraries provide the customer with digital cultural heritage and ethnographic information. Digital information of the cultural heritage content is provided by the libraries in a variety of forms such as Internet portals, data bases, full-text documents, virtual exhibitions. Lithuanian public libraries should exploit the new possibilities of disseminating ethnographic information more actively because they are opened up an opportunity to participate in international initiatives on cultural heritage management in the electronic environment. Lithuanian public libraries should establish cooperation with other partners from the local cultural sector such as museums and archives. The partnership with other stakeholders would enable public libraries to accumulate financial, organizational and other resources. Projects implemented by the European libraries raised a wealth of problems that are encountered in the process of digitalization. Not every library may boast of the expertise in this area, therefore, Lithuanian libraries should draw on the accumulated experience.

The subject of the Master's Thesis is the digitalization of cultural heritage in public libraries. The purpose of the Master's Thesis is the establishment of new possibilities of dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment of public libraries. With a view to achieving the established purposes, the Master's Thesis tackles the following tasks: overview of the policy of the digitalized cultural policy in Europe and Lithuania, survey of European best practices related with the dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment, examination of the Lithuanian public libraries' capacity for presentation the digitalized cultural heritage, description of a number of digitalization features in public libraries. Digitalization is a new method of cultural heritage management that includes not only organization processes but also the diversity and forms of the provided services. The last decade is known for the revolution in the way cultural heritage is managed. Cultural heritage management initiatives are closely related with the attempts to develop a common European information environment. The year 2001 saw the formulation of the Lund principles have urged the European Commission and EU member states to undertake the coordination of digitalization of and provision of access to cultural heritage. Having identified the drawbacks in digitalization and public delivery of cultural heritage and having established the ways of eliminating these drawbacks, specific actions have been undertaken. Quite a few projects on the participation of local cultural heritage institutions in the process of digitalization, e.g. Pulman, Calimera, etc., were initiated and completed. In 2005, Lithuania joined the EU initiatives related with digitalization in order to coordinate the national activities in the area of cultural heritage digitalization. In summer of 2005, the Ministry of Culture and Science approved the Lithuanian Concept of Cultural Heritage Digitalization. A lot of initiatives related with digitalization are currently implemented or had been already implemented, however, the access to the digital cultural content has been as yet fragmentary. The digitalization in Europe is influenced by a number of financial, organizational, technical and legal difficulties. It is possible to find excellent best practices related with partnership in the electronic environment of European public libraries that provide the global customer with digital sources of national cultural heritage in the electronic environment. Implementation of the new information technologies and provision of access to virtual information sources has been recently started by the Lithuanian public libraries and has been slowly gaining momentum. Therefore, only 36 out of 65 public libraries provide the customer with digital cultural heritage and ethnographic information. Digital information of the cultural heritage content is provided by the libraries in a variety of forms such as Internet portals, data bases, full-text documents, virtual exhibitions. Lithuanian public libraries should exploit the new possibilities of disseminating ethnographic information more actively because they are opened up an opportunity to participate in international initiatives on cultural heritage management in the electronic environment. Lithuanian public libraries should establish cooperation with other partners from the local cultural sector such as museums and archives. The partnership with other stakeholders would enable public libraries to accumulate financial, organizational and other resources. Projects implemented by the European libraries raised a wealth of problems that are encountered in the process of digitalization. Not every library may boast of the expertise in this area, therefore, Lithuanian libraries should draw on the accumulated experience.

The subject of the Master's Thesis is the digitalization of cultural heritage in public libraries. The purpose of the Master's Thesis is the establishment of new possibilities of dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment of public libraries. With a view to achieving the established purposes, the Master's Thesis tackles the following tasks: overview of the policy of the digitalized cultural policy in Europe and Lithuania, survey of European best practices related with the dissemination of cultural heritage in the electronic environment, examination of the Lithuanian public libraries' capacity for presentation the digitalized cultural heritage, description of a number of digitalization features in public libraries. Digitalization is a new method of cultural heritage management that includes not only organization processes but also the diversity and forms of the provided services. The last decade is known for the revolution in the way cultural heritage is managed. Cultural heritage management initiatives are closely related with the attempts to develop a common European information environment. The year 2001 saw the formulation of the Lund principles have urged the European Commission and EU member states to undertake the coordination of digitalization of and provision of access to cultural heritage. Having identified the drawbacks in digitalization and public delivery of cultural heritage and having established the ways of eliminating these drawbacks, specific actions have been undertaken. Quite a few projects on the participation of local cultural heritage institutions in the process of digitalization, e.g. Pulman, Calimera, etc., were initiated and completed. In 2005, Lithuania joined the EU initiatives related with digitalization in order to coordinate the national activities in the area of cultural heritage digitalization. In summer of 2005, the Ministry of Culture and Science approved the Lithuanian Concept of Cultural Heritage Digitalization. A lot of initiatives related with digitalization are currently implemented or had been already implemented, however, the access to the digital cultural content has been as yet fragmentary. The digitalization in Europe is influenced by a number of financial, organizational, technical and legal difficulties. It is possible to find excellent best practices related with partnership in the electronic environment of European public libraries that provide the global customer with digital sources of national cultural heritage in the electronic environment. Implementation of the new information technologies and provision of access to virtual information sources has been recently started by the Lithuanian public libraries and has been slowly gaining momentum. Therefore, only 36 out of 65 public libraries provide the customer with digital cultural heritage and ethnographic information. Digital information of the cultural heritage content is provided by the libraries in a variety of forms such as Internet portals, data bases, full-text documents, virtual exhibitions. Lithuanian public libraries should exploit the new possibilities of disseminating ethnographic information more actively because they are opened up an opportunity to participate in international initiatives on cultural heritage management in the electronic environment. Lithuanian public libraries should establish cooperation with other partners from the local cultural sector such as museums and archives. The partnership with other stakeholders would enable public libraries to accumulate financial, organizational and other resources. Projects implemented by the European libraries raised a wealth of problems that are encountered in the process of digitalization. Not every library may boast of the expertise in this area, therefore, Lithuanian libraries should draw on the accumulated experience.

This article continues the investigation on the relationships between science and social engineering. We inquire and critically analyze the ideas of P. Feyerabend on the social possibilities of science, political role of scientific experts and social engineers. The objective of the article is the reconstruction of Feyerabend's reception of science and its socio-political role, then, the presentation of Feyerabend's counter-arguments against Popper's rationalism and the project of social engineering. According to Feyerabend, an open and free society is the society where every (cultural, religious, epistemological etc.) tradition is provided with equal rights and equal possibilities. Any attempt to impose the standards of one tradition on the others rejects the idea of freedom and liberty. Science is only one epistemological traditions among others, therefore, in a free society scientific standard cannot dominate over the standards of the other traditions. Thus, Feyerabend interprets Popper's idea of scientifically grounded social engineering as politically harmful, misleading and incompatible with the requirements of a free society.

This article continues the investigation on the relationships between science and social engineering. We inquire and critically analyze the ideas of P. Feyerabend on the social possibilities of science, political role of scientific experts and social engineers. The objective of the article is the reconstruction of Feyerabend's reception of science and its socio-political role, then, the presentation of Feyerabend's counter-arguments against Popper's rationalism and the project of social engineering. According to Feyerabend, an open and free society is the society where every (cultural, religious, epistemological etc.) tradition is provided with equal rights and equal possibilities. Any attempt to impose the standards of one tradition on the others rejects the idea of freedom and liberty. Science is only one epistemological traditions among others, therefore, in a free society scientific standard cannot dominate over the standards of the other traditions. Thus, Feyerabend interprets Popper's idea of scientifically grounded social engineering as politically harmful, misleading and incompatible with the requirements of a free society.

This article continues the investigation on the relationships between science and social engineering. We inquire and critically analyze the ideas of P. Feyerabend on the social possibilities of science, political role of scientific experts and social engineers. The objective of the article is the reconstruction of Feyerabend's reception of science and its socio-political role, then, the presentation of Feyerabend's counter-arguments against Popper's rationalism and the project of social engineering. According to Feyerabend, an open and free society is the society where every (cultural, religious, epistemological etc.) tradition is provided with equal rights and equal possibilities. Any attempt to impose the standards of one tradition on the others rejects the idea of freedom and liberty. Science is only one epistemological traditions among others, therefore, in a free society scientific standard cannot dominate over the standards of the other traditions. Thus, Feyerabend interprets Popper's idea of scientifically grounded social engineering as politically harmful, misleading and incompatible with the requirements of a free society.

This article continues the investigation on the relationships between science and social engineering. We inquire and critically analyze the ideas of P. Feyerabend on the social possibilities of science, political role of scientific experts and social engineers. The objective of the article is the reconstruction of Feyerabend's reception of science and its socio-political role, then, the presentation of Feyerabend's counter-arguments against Popper's rationalism and the project of social engineering. According to Feyerabend, an open and free society is the society where every (cultural, religious, epistemological etc.) tradition is provided with equal rights and equal possibilities. Any attempt to impose the standards of one tradition on the others rejects the idea of freedom and liberty. Science is only one epistemological traditions among others, therefore, in a free society scientific standard cannot dominate over the standards of the other traditions. Thus, Feyerabend interprets Popper's idea of scientifically grounded social engineering as politically harmful, misleading and incompatible with the requirements of a free society.

The collapse of communist rule in Central Europe (CE) and the third wave of democratization gave a significant impulse for development of theory of political sciences. Though the democratization process in CE is analyzed from various perspectives, key attention is paid for procedural aspects of regime transformation: institutional reforms, the creation of market economy, consolidation of democracy, CE integration to the European Union are the most attractive topics for researches of political sciences. Still there is a lack of theoretical approach towards systemic transformation that includes not only political or economical, but also cultural factors. Therefore it is worth to complement this gap of theoretical literature by focusing on aspects of the cultural transformation in the postcommunist region. The main purpose of the master dissertation is to analyze the dynamics of cultural transformation in four CE countries: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The results of research of cultural cleavages in CE countries shows that the cultural transformation in each country does not depend particulary on radical political and economical reforms. Culture developes according its own logic, and non of the theories is adequate to explain cultural transformation. Research shows that some cultural elements (trust, tolerance) are not in the phase of transformation at all: they are stagnant, not reactive to reforms. Therefore, the communist legacies have still strong roots in every society, and the possibilities of consolidation of democracy of CE region in nearest future are limited.