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The article is an analysis of the virtue of justice as perceived by Sebastian Petrycy from Pilzno. Petrycy demanded social justice in the relation of the nobility to the plebeians. He did not agree to the treatment of peasants as slaves. He demanded judicial justice - desiring to repair the state. He warned the nobility against the consequences of the injustice they had committed.
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The idea of civic education, being distinctly exposed in the Enlightenment period, has its origin in the 16th and 17th centuries, in the so called Old Polish times. It was in writings from these centuries that the social-political thought took the prominent place. It was in these times when the ideas defined as civic philosophy which undertook and developed the issue of civic education, the need for pro-social and pro-state attitude formation appeared for the first time in the philosophical and social thought. At the time, the issue of the Republic’s salvation, its institutions, public welfare and its dangers, the principle of justice and many relevant issues were the predominant matter of discussions. We recall the animators and protagonists of discussions in which the civic education was addressed. This issue was undertaken by outstanding representatives of Polish philosophical and socio-political thought, including Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski, Stanisław Orzechowski, Marycjusz Szymon from Pilzno, Łukasz Górnicki, Piotr Skarga, Sebastian Petrycy from Pilzno, Szymon Starowolski, Andrzej Maksymilian Fredro. Their thinking, as well as the opinions of some less celebrated but numerous participants of the discussion are recalled here with a belief, that at least some of the propositions, recommendations and demands raised at that time go beyond merely historical perspective.
More...O dwóch koncepcjach patriotyzmu
The paper aims to compare two concepts of patriotism, the first one authored by Karol Libelt (1807–1875), the second one - by Kazimierz Twardowski (1866–1938). In the first chapter the short biographies of both philosophers are presented. In the second chapter Libelt’s concept of patriotism is reconstructed. Poznań philosopher characterizes the notion of the love for country by the three triads: material, spiritual and ideological. The material dimension includes sentiment for the place of birth, and political and economic system. The spiritual dimension includes customs, language and culture, especially literature. The ideological dimension includes the institution of state, church and historical consciousness. The state in Libelt’s thought is an institution that merges material and spiritual dimension of a nation and is a basis for its political existence. In the third chapter Twardowski’s approach to patriotism is interpreted. According to him, patriotism begins with the love of one’s local neighborhood. In the next phase – owing to influence of family and school – this feeling includes wider social wholes – a country and a nation. In this process the role of language as a means of communication is very important. Finally, the abstract notion of Poland is discussed. According to Twardowski, spreading the patriotic attitudes should lead to democratization of the society, social equality and solidarity. Finally, in the fourth chapter, Libelt and Twardowski’s approaches are compared.
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The project "The Development of Philosophical Competences" was launched under the Operational Programme “Knowledge. Education. Development” (POWER), organized by the National Centre for Research and Development (POWR.03.01.00-IP.08-00-EFI/16). The project proposed resigning from teaching philosophy and changes in philosophical thought in historical perspective. It suggested omitting systematic philosophical education (e.g. Ajdukiewicz’s Problems and Trends in Philosophy). As an alternative, it offered developing selected philosophical competences, such as the so called soft skills: creativity, communication skills, flexibility, Lipman’s philosophical inquiry. The article presents the principles and solutions of the project. It shows the proposals aimed at the development of the skills required for good arguing, critical, independent thinking, logic and heuristic. It suggests the methods for acquiring better philosophical abilities, broadening horizons, understanding different perspectives on moral and ethical issues. It is vital to develop cognitive interest among secondary school students, to improve their skills in analysis, synthesis, drawing conclusions, asking and answering questions, considering different points of view. The article analyses the practical character of the project – the students are to develop their intellectual potential, which will be used in their career on the labour market. It also describes activating methods applied in the class, which allow for fulfilling the aims of philosophy, i.e. arousing interest in the problem, asking questions and finding answers to them. It was also considered important to show the advantages and weaknesses of this model of philosophical education in Polish schools.
More...Miejsce wiersza "Tak mi, Boże, dopomóż" w biografii duchowej Juliusza Słowackiego
The article concerns the work "Tak mi, Boże, dopomóż", written by Juliusz Słowacki a day after his meeting with Andrzej Towiański in 1842 and considered a testimony to the transformation that the poet underwent under the influence of the Master. Contrary to the dominant research tendency, the poem is treated here as a document of a transitional state and a record of Słowacki’s identity struggles caused by a long-lasting – and not sudden, as it is often assumed – spiritual transformation. The main area of interest is the nature of this metamorphosis. The interpretation of the poem mentioned in the title and other works as well as the correspondence, supported by the findings of psychology and psychology of religion (concerning the midlife crisis and conversion), proves that the beginnings of this process can be seen as early as 1835, and its sealing – in 1843 or 1844. The suddenness of the breakthrough, emphasized by Słowacki in the poem, seems to be an element of his own postulative biography – drawn during an identity crisis, and therefore in an uncertain way, and therefore requiring reliance on other entities, including Andrzej Towiański. Ultimately, the conversation with him turns out to be much less important than the whole reflection that followed, which was recorded, for example, in "Tak mi, Boże, dopomóż".
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The article is devoted to the issue of reading Towianist writings from the perspective of the concept of editions. The analysis reveals an extensive though poorly recognised part of Mickiewicz’s oeuvre, both in its oral and written form. The study focuses on the so-called “notes from conversations with Towiański” because the titles given to them by editors deprive these texts (including e.g. autograph No. 80) of their original character and meaning.
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Andrzej Towiański’s views gained many followers among the representatives of Polish emigration. Adam Mickiewicz became one of the most ardent supporters. The poet’s fascination by Towianism worried his friend Stefan Witwicki and was the main cause of the conflict between the poets. The author of "Edmund" considered Towiański a heretic and, as a zealous Catholic, felt obliged to warn Mickiewicz against his misguided views. He repeatedly mentioned his fears in correspondence with his friend, and when it did not bring the expected results, he decided to speak out in public. He announced the paper "Towiańszczyzna wystawiona i aneksami objaśniona" [Towiańszczyzna Exposed and Explained with Annexes], in which he presented the history of the creation of the sect and criticised not only Towiański, but also Mickiewicz. The article is an interpretation of this brochure and presents Witwicki’s attitude to Towianism, as well as his opinion about Towiański himself and Mickiewicz, to whom the poet devotes a lot of attention in this work. The carried out analysis proves that the text is not only a critique of the author of "Biesiada" and his followers.
More...Udział Aleksandra Chodźki w Kole Sprawy Bożej
Aleksander Chodźko (1802–1891) was a poet, diplomat, translator and scholar of Persian literature, and finally Adam Mickiewicz’s successor at the chair of Slavic languages and literatures at the Collège de France. In the years 1842–1846, he also took an active part in Andrzej Towiański’s Circle of God’s Cause, which he joined under the influence and at the instigation of his close friend, Mickiewicz. This article presents the figure of Aleksander Chodźko through the prism of his participation in Andrzej Towiański’s Circle of God’s Cause. Aleksander Chodźko’s position is analysed from the point of view of his role in the Circle, showing at the same time the reasons and mechanisms that led him to accept considerable sacrifices for the Cause: his career plans, a considerable fortune brought from Persia, and his marriage plans. This short period of membership in the sect largely determined Chodźko’s fate as an emigrant in Paris from 1842 to 1891.
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The article seeks to complement or even overcome the previous convictions about Cyprian Norwid’s attitude to Towianism established in research, mainly based on Józef Fert’s analysis. Literary texts penned by the author of "Promethidion", such as "Salem and Zwolon", and the poet’s correspondence with Józef Bohdan Zaleski and Jan Skrzynecki from 1848 seem to provide an important context in the discussion on Norwid’s portrayal of Towiański. The image of the author of "Biesiada" emerging from these sources appears to be ambiguous, even ambivalent, revealing Norwid’s struggles with the ideas of Towianism, the legend of Towiański, and the esteem enjoyed by the Circle of God’s Cause. It seems that over time, Norwid was becoming more and more influenced by the figure of Towiański, perhaps to such an extent that it also affected the artist’s output after 1852, for example the character of Jason the Magician (Jazon Mag) in the poem "Quidam".
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In this article, I look at the controversial legend of Andrzej Towiański, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Romantic era. From the very beginning, his activities aroused radically different opinions, which over time became his “golden” and “black” portrayals. The interpretive mechanisms behind this process remain as yet unexplored. In the creation of Towiański’s legend, an important role was played not only by writers and thinkers but also by representatives of the scientific world. For this reason, I trace the presence of legend-making mechanisms primarily in the works of Towianism researchers. Thus, the article is an overview of the history of reception, but its purpose is an attempt at historical-literary revision. Rather than doing justice to individual scholars, I critically screen various scientific discourses. I demonstrate the deep connection between academic language and methaporical thinking, as well as ideological and emotional characterization. In conclusion, I pose the question of the possibility of transcending the legend-making writing of Towianism. I answer this methodological dilemma positively and outline research perspectives for the future.
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The paper deals with the crucial question of primary sources which may be used in the research of Towianism. Analysing the extensive edition of "Pisma Andrzeja Towiańskiego" [Andrzej Towiański’s Writings] published by his most prominent followers after their master’s death, the author’s argument follows the perspective of religious studies in the European context. She examines this highly diverse collection of texts with regard to literary genres, linguistic aspects, and content. She then summarizes the significant interferences on the part of the editors concerning paratextual elements (e.g. commentary and explanations), intratextual elements (e.g. connections between individual texts), and intertextual elements (e.g. extensive citations of religious literature). In conclusion, the Turin edition is revealed to be a collective work of Towiański’s adherents who should be considered its co-authors. Further examination allows for the identification of two Italian co-authors, Attilio Begey and Tancredi Canonico, alongside the editors mentioned by name, Karol Baykowski and Stanisław Falkowski. The author interprets the results of the analysis with the use of the concepts of religious studies. Finally, she juxtaposes her findings with studies of later Italian publications and seeks to reconstruct themes not included in the edition, using unpublished archival material to fill in the lacunae.
More...Affinities and Divergences of a Religious Revolution
The study compares the religious ideas of Giuseppe Mazzini and Andrzej Towiański, aiming to explain the reasons that contributed to the diffusion of Towiański’s doctrine in Italy. Mazzini was one of the most famous and influential patriots of 19th century Europe, and his social and political thought was one of the prominent currents animating national uprisings in Italy. This study focuses on Mazzini’s thought because of its influence on Towiański’s disciples. Therefore, it can be assumed that Mazzini’s thought facilitated the diffusion of Towianism in Piedmont. The comparison of their ideas helps to understand to what extent Towiański’s thought was similar to that of Mazzini and, consequently, to what extent Towiański’s doctrine could have been familiar to the Italian patriots. Although Mazzini and Towiański shared some ideas with several other Romantic thinkers, there are numerous similarities that are unique to their thought. Moreover, they were proponents of religious doctrines: a civil religion for Mazzini and a traditional religion for Towiański. It is significant that, in both thinkers, a constant intertwining of the political and religious spheres is present. Their political and religious stances, which promoted a messianic vision of the future of the nations, were extremely appealing to the Italian patriots engaged, like the Poles, in attempts to affirm their national independence.
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Main purpose of the essay is to reflect on the particular influence that Andrzej Towiański’s thought exercised on an Italian politician and writer, Umberto Zanotti Bianco (known also as Giorgio D’Acandia). Zanotti Bianco was an enthusiast of so called „Polish question” in the times of the First World War and as a young man he had been raised by Attillo Begey (1843–1928), one of the first disciples of Towiański in Italy. The essay consists in an analysis of a cycle of Zanotti Bianco’s autobiographical short stories combined with a reflection on his intellectual and spiritual formation as a result of the assimilation of Towiański’s ideas. Besides, the problem of living the Gospel in secular activities is discusses as a consequence of Towiański’s thought internalisation. Moreover, the relationship between the master (Begey) and the disciple (Zanotti Bianco) is read in the light of Towiański’s teaching.
More...Postyczniowe głosy na temat Andrzeja Towiańskiego i recepcja jego myśli
The article discusses the changes in the reception of Andrzej Towiański and Towianism after the January Uprising (until 1882), namely in the period of the Master’s literal and symbolic departure. The author proves that in the times of the Positivist offensive, writers began to verify the harmful myths about the Towianist religious movement and its leader. The period saw the emergence, alongside memoirs and polemical narratives, of attempts to conduct research on Towianism based on preserved documents and historical works. The author shows how the stories shaped by representatives of the intelligentsia were directly connected with new political and anthropological projects, as well as with the assessment and place of religion in the post-January period.
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The article is an attempt to introduce the figure of the forgotten Towianism follower, Karol Baykowski, who lives at the turn of the 20th century in Cracow. He played an important role in shaping the views of the young generation of artists and their attitude to the heritage of Romanticism. He contributed in particular to the increased interest in the mystical-messianic period in the life of romantic prophets. According to the author of the article, Baykowski, omitted in previous research on Young Poland’s literature, art, and thought, is an important key to a more complete understanding of the works of such artists as Stanisław Wyspiański, Tadeusz Miciński, Włodzimierz Tetmajer or Jacek Malczewski, as well as to a better understanding of the intellectual and spiritual ferment as it was then.
More...Komunikat
The text discusses the interest shown by the Reduta Theatre’s co-founders, Juliusz Osterwa and Mieczysław Limanowski, in Towianism and the person and activity of Andrzej Towiański. It also looks at the parallels and similarities between Towianists and Towiański’s ideas on the one hand, and the achievements and objectives of the Reduta Theatre’s founders on the other. What is the place of Towiański, Towianism and the Towianists in the Reduta Theatre’s duality that is being uncovered by scholars: a realistic and psychological theatre, but also a project with another, hidden aspect, an area of mystery and psychological, religious, or maybe even esoteric experimentation? The author explores the meaning Towianism had for the Reduta community and invokes the results of leading works whose authors discussed this issue, especially studies by Zbigniew Osiński and Ireneusz Guszpit. Above all, though, the paper outlines plans for further research on the multidimensional relationship between Towianism and the Reduta ideas.
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A book "Mickiewicz – Towiański" (1986) written by professor Konrad Górski is a part of the group of publications forming the so-called black legend of Master Andrzej Towiański. It stems from Górski’s genuine fascination with the works of Adam Mickiewicz, who succumbed to the influence of the Koło Sprawy Bożej, which in turn had a negative impact on the poet’s attitude and his further fate. Górski blames Towiański for all of Mickiewicz’s literary and personal failures. The author of the book presents a rather archaic model of writing on literature (positivist biography) and he does not know the newer specialised literature on the subject. Furthermore, personal experiences from the period of martial law also influenced the final shape of this one-sided and unreliable publication.
More...Andrzej Towiański w czarnym imaginarium XXI wieku
The author analyses journalistic portraits of Andrzej Towiański (1799–1878), a religious thinker and theosophist who in the years 1841–1855 greatly impacted the life and work of Poland’s greatest poet, Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855). In texts penned by Ewa Polak-Pałkiewicz ("Długi cień „Mistrza”") and Piotr Wierzbicki (chapter titled “Obłęd” in the book "Powrót do Mickiewicza") in 2020–2021, Towiański is depicted as a sectarian, manipulator, a symbolical figure of a “demonic abettor” wielding destructive power over the poet. The author of the present article discusses the potential reasons for the longevity of this stereotype among both right-wing (the two mentioned above) and left-wing (Cezary Michalski, Max Cegielski, Polityka weekly) columnists. As he points out, the texts penned by left- and right-wing journalists condemn irrationality but themselves constitute an expression of irrational behaviour.
More...Refleksje z perspektywy lingwistycznej
The aim of this work is to establish what collective identity is from a linguistic perspective. We assume that identity is an important research object if seen as a kind of a specific type of language communication and shared knowledge. Thanks to this knowledge an individual becomes aware of their own distinctiveness and belonging to community. The findings are of theoretical, ordering and designing character. We base our reflections on ethnolinguistics, cultural linguistics, text and discourse linguistics. In the first part of the article we present the arguments for the communicative-linguistic character of collective identity, looking at it from the perspective of sign and code. In the second part, we refer to the rich experience of linguists and present various research methods applied in identity research from the perspective of sign and code.
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