On the Path to Truth Material of the 8th International Scientific Conference "The Path to Reciprocity" (Bielowieza, June 17-17, 2000) and the round table conference "The Idea of Belaruskasts and the Idea of Polishness at the Turn of the Century: About Definitions" (Minsk, September 6-7, 2000) The book features presentations made by Belarusian and Polish scholars on the Belarusian language and culture and Belarusian-Polish relations. During public discussions, in works of fiction and science one can often come across the application of present-day patterns of thinking to past events. Trends toward scientifically unfounded progression are observed among researchers of history of the Rzeczpospolita gentry, especially as far as their national identity is concerned. Researchers into the 19th century history differ on definitions of the terms "a Pole," "a Litvin" and "a Belarusian." Poles use the terms to denote nationality because of their straightforward general views on such categories. It is more complicated with Belarusians because of a weaker sense of national identity.