ETIKA BÁDATEĽA VO VZŤAHU K MINULOSTI A SÚČASNOSTI

The ethical dimension of the work of the historian is multi-dimensional. It is most frequently associated with trivial failure to respect rights of authorship or not mentioning the sources from which a historian drew information, which is perceived as unethical by the lay public as well as the by the professionals. However, the relationship of a researcher to the past and so also his interpretation of the events is hidden from the eyes of the public and difficult to uncover even for experts. It is determined by many factors, especially the fact that a researcher belongs to a particular group in the population and holds its values. This penetrates into his evaluation and description of the past, sometimes leading to under thrusting of the public with his own or group „truth“. The question of the ethical behaviour of the historian appears at this point. It is more serious because the work of a historian is difficult to monitor but has a real impact on society.