Vybraní slovenskí vzdelanci v diele J. Tibenského
(Selected Slovak Scholars in the Work of J. Tibenský)
Jaroslav Durec
Download PDFDUREC, Jaroslav. Selected Slovak Scholars in the Work of J. Tibenský. In Historický zborník, Vol. 35, 2025, No. 1, pp. 77 – 86.
Abstract: This contribution explores how Slovak scholars are portrayed in the extensive work of historian Ján Tibenský. To this end, several of his writings were analyzed, focusing on both prominent and lesser-known figures from national history. In addition to examining the life stories of these individuals, the aim was to observe Tibenský’s historical-biographical approach in terms of continuity and comparison. Particularly valuable are those aspects of the role of personality in history that explore the relationship between the individual and society. The phenomenon of the historical personality occupies an ambiguous position within historiographical methodology. Tibenský’s works reflect the need to engage with the life stories of individuals whose work, creative output, or legacy offer a faithful testimony to the historical context of which they were a part. This was well understood by Tibenský himself, a student of historian Daniel Rapant, who recognized that through historical figures he could grasp not only the socio-political conditions of the time, but also delve into the mindset of individuals–exploring both the internal and external dimensions of their biographies. It is important to note that Tibenský’s interest in researching individual personalities stemmed not only from a desire to uncover new life stories, but also from a commitment to making new historical sources accessible to both scholarly and general audiences, since as an employee of Matica slovenská, he was well acquainted with both the scholarly and public educational dimensions of national history.
Keywords: Slovak History; Historical Personality; Biography; Historical Continuity