[Jerzy Kmita's conception of a theoretical history of science as an instrument in the study of the history of medical sciences].

In the approach taken by Jerzy Kmita, the theoretical history of science is such reflexion on the history of scientific praxis that recognizes as its point of departure the technological role of that praxis as its defining function, while at the same time recognizing that such praxis is regulated in subjective-rational terms by the specific domain of modern European culture which is symbolically described as science. In this understanding science is social methodological awareness, i.e. the whole of norms and directives that are respected by the research community and which universally regulate scientific praxis in rational-subjective terms. The theoretical history of science takes account of two kinds of considerations, treating science as (1) the subjective-rational source of scientific praxis, and thus indirectly also of scientific knowledge (which is true, probably true, or coming closer to the truth than the already existent scientific knowledge); (2) a subjective-rational cultural regulator of scientific praxis and knowledge that is functionally determined by the needs of technological effectiveness, and possibly also evaluate-religious and educational effectiveness, and that is capable of satisfying such needs. Following the historical changes of those aspects is not subject to evaluative judgements relating to the plausibility of the emerging scientific knowledge, the developmental phases of science or the ideals of truth. The proposed theoretical history of science constitutes only an attempt to reconstruct the said phenomena in subjective-rational terms, and hence has a culture-descriptive character. The aim of the article is to present the potential and limitations of using this conception for the study of the history of medical sciences.