Morality and living through a historic time Cover Image

Historia i przeżywanie ludzkiej moralności
Morality and living through a historic time

Author(s): Alojzy Drożdż
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Księgarnia Świętego Jacka
Keywords: biography; Blondel; Dedecius; history; responsibility; eternity

Summary/Abstract: A human existence is inevitably inscribed in experiencing time. „For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Historicity of man and awareness of this historicity makes him special among the creation. The same applies to human morality. Human morality, as the author assumes after Saint Augustine, is conditioned by the past, present but also the future of man (Confessions XI, 14,17). Experiencing a historic time can be seen in the so called cirmunstantiae vitae. They are decisive when it comes to quality of each „moral deed”. What is also at stake here, is the fact, that experiencing a historic time decides upon moral quality of human thoughts, deeds and lifestyles. There is no man outside time and history. The same applies to human morality. Moral „biographies” are always historic. It means that „times are as morality of men is like”: good or evil. This calls for responsibility for the gift of time. A man is mortal (homo viator), but his earthly existence is a „preparation” and „introduction” to eternity. Hence responsibility for eternal salvation is the most important moral responsibility of every man. In the second part of the paper the author claims, following Maurice Blondel, that „times in each generation are hard...”. Human morality therefore can be found „between heroism and bestiality...”. It is not insignificant that history „may flow against the current of human conscience...”. This is the truth derived from poetry of young Karol Wojtyła by Karl Dedecius. A man, each in his own way, experiences his time. One can live through one’s time in various ways: chaotically, confusedly and randomly, or very responsibly. „Time perspective” is another important factor for human consciousness. In „long-time perspective” for example one can see more clearly „quality” of human life. One has a better view on bygone phenomena and experience, since they are viewed as continuity „towards eternity”. Among multiplicity of historical phenomena one of the most pivotal ones are experience of failures, catastrophes, but also heroic deeds. It is said that „history is a teacher of life”, but it is also true that „there is few, who are able and willing to learn these lessons...”. There is no human biographies „outside history”. This allows us to discover specific „strings of events”, but also lines of evangelical development, in spite of numerous weaknesses. Ultimately eternity awaits all of us. May God grant us all a happy one.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 10
  • Page Range: 200-221
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Polish