“The main factor of culture”: K.A. Timiryazev on science (towards the centenary of his death)
This article is devoted to K.A. Timiryazev’s works on the philosophy of science that have not been studied enough by the historians of Russian science. The papers under study were included by Timiryazev in the book “Science and Democracy”, published in March 1920, a month before the his demise. In the preface to this collection of papers, K.A. Timiryazev wrote about the importance of proper organisation of science popularisation work and of ensuring the accessibility of these works to broad masses of Russian population. The main idea of this book was determined by his long-held dreams “about the freedom of science of free people”. Timiryazev believed that the 1917 Revolution opened up unprecedented opportunities for the development of science and education in the country as well as for a comprehensive development of culture. In his article “The new needs of the 20th century science and their satisfaction in the West and in our country”, published in 1911, K.A. Timiryazev sharply criticised the reactionary actions of the authorities who tried to curb the freedom of science at the universities. In the article “Science in modern life”, written at the end of 1915, K.A. Timiryazev defends science and culture from the attacks of ignorant forces and the growing influence of the ideas of classical metaphysics and the philosophy of idealism. He contrasted these trends with his vision of the decisive, creative role of science in the future of mankind. The article “Science and freedom” was written during the Soviet era, in the spring of 1919. In this article, K.A. Timiryazev yet again raised the question of the need for the state to provide every possible assistance to scientific research and emphasised the importance of proper social status for scientists. According to Timiryazev, science is the main factor of culture and the main spring of civilisation. We believe that these ideas ofK.A. Timiryazev have not lost their significance and relevance.