The GENERAL SENSE & GOALS OF DISCUSSION:

a) to deliver possibilities for each Paticipant to expand his/her intellectual horizon by means of ideas, information and criticism exchange;

b) to put new, unknown ideas, bibliographical and historical data into "the common communicative boiler";

c) to initiate and support the on-going international thought process;

d) to give opportunity for each Participant to get new professional and personal contacts;

e) to cultivate the order of mutual support between colleagues.

THE PREMISES OF PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION:

a) the problems of PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY & THEORETICAL HISTORY are very complicated, thus it is useful to discuss them in consecutive order ;

b) the Discussion is more productive when the Participants can not only react to current messages but also can read something about the topic in books and periodicals and then throw these ideas into Discussion;

c) the Discussion as an instrument for on-going thought processes differs from the simple chat if the Participants in each phase take into account the results of previous Discussion

MESSAGES (MS) Discussion can contain criticism, analysis, ideas in succession, hypothesis, information about relevant ideas in classical and contemporary literature, bibliographical data or any other content concerning the Problems in discussion. The exchange of i d e a s is more preferable in e-nets than sending each other the accomplished academic p a p e r s. Each Participant is free in the volume, form, structure and style of his MESSAGE. Meanwhile it will be more convenient and comfortable for us all as for the potential receivers and readers of MESSAGES if they will correspond with the following

Recommendations for MESSAGES:

Volume: uspreferably 1/2 of page but not much more than 3-5 pages.

Style: Politeness and benevolence to each other; the criticism of IDEAS can be annihilating but any insults of DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS are forbidden.

Distribution: If your MESSAGE is too special and too large, consider the possibility to send it not to all Participants but only to those who are supposed to be mostly interested in it;

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF DISCUSSION It is a delicate question for specialists concerning the exchange of unpublished ideas, information, results. Besides these questions of authorship there are problems and possibilities concerning criticism, quotations, joint publications and mutual support. In order to make our Discussion safe, comfortable and helpful consider the following simple rules:

a) If you have decided to become a Participant in Discussion you should realize that the ideas of your MESSAGES can be quoted, used and critisized by other Participants not only in e-nets, but also in publications.

b) If you do not want your name mentioned you can take a pseudonym or put your special wishes (REQUESTS) at the top of your MESSAGES

c) If you wish to quote or use in e-nets or publications the ideas from the MESSAGE of other Participant you must mention his/her name, institution, country (certainly if there are no other REQUESTS in his/her MESSAGE, f.e. to mention in e-nets or/and publications also e-mail address of MESSAGE author).

d) If you wish to critisize in a publication or long-lasting file in e-nets the ideas of any other Participant you should first send your criticism to him/her and wait for an answer for 10-15 days. Nobody can forbid you to critisize anybody. This rule serves for rather ordinary cases of misunderstanding.

e) If your ideas are quite close to the ideas of the definite Participant and you have the intention and possibility for publication, consider the option of a joint paper.

d) Be generous and lavish to your colleagues in all aspects of professional information and cooperation (ideas, bibliography, copies, publications, contacts, conferences, grants, fellowship, lectures, job, etc.). This tradition sooner or later will render a valuable service to you.

Probably our Discussion will not be so fruitful as we can hope now, but the minimal success that we can attain obviously is the safe, generous and mutually helpful order of our professional communication.

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