An outstanding scientist, philosopher, Academician, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Chief Researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the NAS of Belarus Dmitry Ivanovich Shirokanov (May 20, 1929 - December 10, 2023) passed away.

Dmitry Ivanovich Shirokanov was born on May 20, 1929 in the village of Galki, Braginski district, Gomiel region. After graduating from the Belarusian State University in 1952 with a red diploma, completing postgraduate studies and defending his PhD thesis in 1955, Dmitry I. Shirokanov works at the Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Academy of Sciences. First as a Junior Researcher, then as a Senior Researcher, and since 1962 as Head of the department. In 1972, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic Interrelation of Categories of Dialectics. In 1974, he was elected a Corresponding Member, and in 1989 an Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR. The abilities and talent of the science organizer, the caring head of the scientific team are revealed in the position of Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Law, to which he was elected on an alternative basis in 1988 and performed these duties during the difficult perestroika period until 1994. Since 1994, he has been the Head of the Department of Logic and Methodology of Scientific Knowledge.

The main directions of Dmitry I. Shirokanov's scientific research are the development of problems of dialectics, logic, theory of scientific knowledge, identification of their methodological function in modern science and social life; analysis of the processes of development and internal interrelation of philosophical categories and concepts, their meaningful role in the study of society and nature; research of philosophical problems of natural science, modern patterns of its development; study the processes of formation of the philosophical and socio-political life of Belarus. Based on the principle of historicism, Dmitry I. Shirokanov developed the concept of the cognitive and heuristic essence of philosophical concepts and categories as an integral system. He showed the one-sidedness and unreasonableness of the rigid determinism principle, which was widespread in philosophical literature. A detailed description of concepts of varying degrees of generality and their local and global interrelations was proposed, the ways were investigated (specifically scientific, general scientific and philosophical) of the formation of such concepts in categorical structures and systems that they form. Based on the analysis of the concept of substance, Dmitry I. Shirokanov revealed the interaction of two forms of categorical relations — causal-deterministic and structural-systemic, which complement each other. Dmitry I. Shirokanov paid great attention to the very relevant applied side of philosophical research, in particular, the development of the methodology of social actions, the identification of productive forms of modern style of thinking, consciousness and self-consciousness of a person, which makes it possible to more effectively influence the development of social development programs. Dmitry I. Shirokanov is the author of 130 scientific papers, including 4 monographs, 14 major collective monographic studies. He has trained 30 candidates and 12 doctors of science. Laureate of the Prize of the Academies of Sciences of Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova (2009) for the joint research work High Technologies in the Structure of Sustainable Development of the Innovation System of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Moldova: the Problem of Compliance with Noospheric Values as part of the authoring team. He was awarded the VDNH Gold Medal for the collective work of Belarusian researchers Determinism: Systems, Development. For his scientific and public activities, Dmitry I. Shirokanov was awarded orders and medals, including the Order of Badge of Honor (1967) and the Order of Francysk Skaryna (1990).

The staff of the National Academy of Sciences deeply sympathizes with the family and friends of Dmitry Ivanovich.