Ігнат Дамейка — светач сусветнай цывілізацыі: Матэрыялы VI Карэліцкіх чытанняў (г. п. Мір, 12 вер. 2002 г.)

L. Uladykoŭskaja-Kanaplanik
Ihnat Damiejka and the present-day Belarus. Opening address

History takes on special significance when a social experience together with study of the past and elucidation of historical truth helps to build the present and project a perspective for the future. What example gives the world-famous figure of Ihnat Damiejka to us, the present-day people? What is the actuality of his legacy?

There is no doubt that Ihnat Damiejka was a man of Renascence who can be described as «the Titan of mind, of passion and character, of variety and erudition». He also was a multiple-discipline scientist, he was good in geology and botany, in economics and literature, in geography and education. And what is important I. Damiejka was the professional in the mentioned fields of knowledge. The person who possesses only abstract knowledge cannot discover, for example, new species of plants and animals as it was made by Damiejka.

We need such people today! The socio-political conditions, the economic reality we have require elastic ability to change professions, because, as a rule, ranks of the unemployed are enlarged by narrow-minded professionals.

It’s quite another matter that the modern science is too specialized and narrowed. In the social practice everything is divided and functions separately: education, science, economics, politics. The present-day Belarus is a transitional society in which new courses of development are looked for and new structures are organized. This is the politics. Science should serve the aims of practice, help people and state to solve concrete everyday problems

For example, whether humanitarians should investigate only the past or the abstractions which have nothing in common with Belarus?

We need especially the people who are good organizers. First of all in the sphere of education, science, culture. After all, not rebellions but information, knowledge, intellect, spirituality nominate a winner. Our life shows that excellent scientists very rarely become good managers. Ihnat Damiejka is an example of a scientist-organizer who was able to establish the Chilean National University. Where can we find one more Damiejka to establish the Belarusian National University?

The scientific trend developed by Damiejka in Chile has not lost its urgency, it has become even more important in the 21st century. Pollution of the environment, destructive attitude towards nature, numerous ecological problems show our indifference to the Earth. Though it seems that we «work» with the noosphere. Ecological development is bound up with the problems worked out by I. Damiejka. In fact, the scientist discovered new species in the world of animals and plants and the Red Book today is enlarged by new facts about the species of animals and plants which are dessapearing.

Ihnat Damiejka was called a great enlightener not only because he lived in the time of Enlightenment. Mainly he was called so for his aspiration to spread good, beauty and truth among people. Whether it is possible to overcome the present-day spiritual-moral crisis otherwise than through cultivation of the Belarusian cultural tradition and the spiritual experience common to all mankind?

Enlightment takes on special global significance and actuality when it is a complex of methods which are directed towards formation of humanistic ideals which are progressive for our epoch.

I. Damiejka revealed his Belarusian mentality, his heaven-born nobility through his orientation towards moral values. Our compatriot mirrors the best features of the national character such as openess, search for truth, love of freedom, pride, restlessness.

The Belarusian national path is characterized by many pecularities. One of them is a strange flair to give up to the world its ideas and the best talents. Ihnat Damiejka is not an exception. Today Belarusians share with the world their spiritual, intelectual and creative potential. And it becomes more difficult to ignore Belarus as the Homeland of prominent artists, writers, scientists.

The legacy of Damiejka remains for eternity. Damiejka lives in the people who take an active part in the work for the future and the greater glory of Belarus. And they are worthy of gratitude from contemporaries and descendants.