The author analyses the relation between the literary character and the place in Gustaw Herling-Grudziński’s Most. Z kroniki naszego miasta. The author attempts to prove that places shown by Herling-Grudziński play a significant role in the writer’s biography and also influence the way of acting and decisions of literary characters created by the writer. Using geopoetics as its starting point, this perspective puts emphasis on the category of place considered in both geographic and literary dimension. In her interpretation of the (...) short story by Herling-Grudziński, the author attempts to show that the bridge affects the life of the main character, his behaviour and attitude to the world. The article also offers a summary of critical approaches to the presentation of space motifs in the literary works of Herling-Grudziński. The context for the analysis is provided by the writer’s biography which highlights his personal experience connected with private places. The analytical key to unlock their senses is taken from geopoetics as the perspective which may enable us to find new content in the unique literary output of Herling-Grudziński. (shrink)

The objection raised by Davidson against Kuhn in article "On the Very Idea of Conceptual Scheme" that the argument presented in "The Structure of Scientific Revolution" was inconsistent is incorrect. Kuhn's conception belongs to psychology and sociology and his work could be titled "An Outline of Psychology and Sociology of Scientific Research". Consequently he is interested only and only in psychologi-cal reasons that affect scientists' theoretical decisions. E.g. his considerations concerning neutral observational language are polemous against thesis that language like (...) that could be somehow useful for interpretation of what scientists do and also against thesis that it could be useful for scientists themselves. The difficulty of un-derstanding above paradigmata does not consist on conceptual schemata meant logically as Davidson reads it but on different cognitive attitude and different manual sets of concepts. To explain the controversy logical and psychological concepts of meaning are distinguished. Davidson means the proper, Kuhn does the latter. Psy-chological meaning concists on what associations and feelings are evocated by utterances in the recever's mind. When Kuhn says that after a revolution scientists live in another world he means only that the language with witch they describe the reality has different psychological meaning. And this is that kind of meaning that cannot be translated and is lost when you discuss above paradigmata. From Kuhn's point of view it is possible to translate logical meaning of scientific utterances from before a revolution, and he does it. The psychological meaning can be only described but not translated. (shrink)

Implikatura skalarna jest bardzo powszechnym typem wnioskowania pragmatycznego, które polega na uznaniu przez odbiorcę za nieprawdziwe zdań zawierających terminy bardziej informatywne niż termin użyty przez mówcę, kiedy wszystkie te terminy można umieścić na jednej skali. Pierwsza część tekstu stanowi przegląd podstawowych teoretycznych podejść do implikatur skalarnych. Druga część oferuje krótki przegląd badań empirycznych na temat rozwoju implikatur skalarnych u dzieci. Ostatnia część jest bazującą na przykładzie implikatur skalarnych próbą refleksji nad wzajemnymi stosunkami między pragmatyką teoretyczną a eksperymentalną.

In this article I address the contributions of Anna Brożek, Marek Lechniak and Jacek Wojtysiak as formulated in the course of their discussion of my monographic study Pytania i odpowiedzi. Ujęcie teoriomnogościowe [Questions and answers: A Set-theoretic approach]. My responses in the article are divided into substantive and methodological ones, depending on whether the comments and suggestions for improvement formulated in their contributions refer to the actual conception proposed in the book or to the methods used in its construction. In (...) my substantive comments, I respond to issues relating to the structure, types and accuracy of questions. I argue that: (i) the schematisations of question structure proposed in the monograph are a development of the so-called “Polish schema” that is such as to make it possible to exhibit and remove the elements of ambiguity in any interrogative sentences and questions based on them; (ii) although the general schematic structure is common to all questions, the division of questions adopted in the monograph—especially into questions to be resolved and others—is substantively justified and logically correct; (iii) the claims put forward regarding the relations between the accuracy of questions and the truth of their assumptions are correct—even though a general inference to the accuracy of the questions at issue from the truth of their assumptions requires (as J. Wojtysiak has observed) an additional condition to be met. My methodological remarks concern the so-called component-combinatorial method of analysing questions, the notion of so-called “generalised negation”, and the evaluation of the philosophical methods on display in the monograph in the light of the relevant model of the philosophical method (as described by A. Brożek). I show that: (iv) the method of representing and analysing interrogative sentences used in the monograph provides a tool for distinguishing all of their possible meanings (possible questions), which in the reconstruction of question situations narrows down the analyses to questions that comply with the rules of language (excluding as it does the construction of meaningless combinations, as warned against by M. Lechniak), while on the other hand enabling it to be the case that out of the total number of possible ones, only questions relevant in a given situation are taken into account; (v) the negation non, though ultimately based on propositional negation ~ (it is defined by disjunction  and negation ~), is its generalisation, since it can be applied not only to the whole matrix p of the question “Is it the case that p?”, but also to any of its parts, right down to its individual components, and at the same time is equivalently replaceable with ~ in the situation of negation of the entire matrix p; (vi) the mode of philosophising that I have employed in the monograph is consistent with a method combining analysis, paraphrasing, and axiomatisation, even if it is far removed from model axiomatisation especially, and needs further completion in respect of the so-called theoretical “verbal corpus” — i.e. in terms of the references it makes to other conceptions of questions and answers. (shrink)

By logical foundations of language syntax ontology we understand here the construction of formalized linguistic theories based on widely conceived mathematical logic and dependent on two trends in language ontology. The formalization includes exclusively the syntactic aspect of logical analysis of language characterized categorially according to Ajdukiewicz's approach [1935, 1960]. Any categorial language L is characterized formally on two levels: on one of them it concerns the language of expression-tokens, on the other one - that of expression-types. Accepting the view (...) that expression-concretes, that is expression-tokens - thus, physical objects are fundamental language layer, whereas the secondary layer for L are expression-abstracts, that is expression-types - thus, ideal objects, it is the nominalistic, concretistic philosophical view on the ontological nature of language entities that is adhered to. Supporting the view that expression-types are the basic language layer, while expression-concretes are the secondary one, we take the opposite standpoint - platonizing one. We prove that the two dual approaches towards the two-level syntax theory of language are logically eqivalent. In the scope of language syntax, both conceptions deriving from two different existential assumption are equivalent. This statement is philosophical significance, since it proves that in syntactical studies on language the assumption of the existence of abstract language beings (interpreted as classes equiform tokens) can be neglected. The idea was signalized by author in ealier paper "On the type-token relationships'' [1986) and than, in a slighly diffrent form in English "On the eliminatibility of ideal linguistic entities, Studia Logica 48,no 4 (1989), pp. 587-615. (shrink)

Vast transformations in the conditions of human life and the growth of scientific knowledge call for large-scale reconstruction in morality. This is the historical context for the contemporary problem of the relation between empirical knowledge and ethics. The present paper examines the metaethical aspects of this problem. It is argued that the sharp isolation of ethics from empirical science, representing a philosophical convergence of Kantian, phenomenological and positivist theses, should be seen as a distinctive intellectual program in the 20th century (...) ethics and not as an established theory; that this program has by now had its trial and failed, both on the conceptual and the empirical side; that the program rests on a psychology now abandoned in the progress of science. It is suggested that an opposing integrative program which relates empirical knowledge and ethics is more likely to succeed, that it is better grounded psychologically and stands a better chance of a helping deal with the practical problems of morality in the contemporary world. These several theses are explored in outline, with some indication of the way conceptual frameworks in ethics are to be justified in the long run. (shrink)

The aim of the work is to present the conservative views of the journalist and historian Henryk Lisicki and the role he played in the community with which he collaborated, i.e. the Krakow conservatives called the Stańczyk Circle. The source of the article are monographs, brochures, dissertations, essays and articles published in „Przegląd Polski“ by Lisicki. In order to evaluate to what extent Lisicki’s political thought was original, and to what extent it was in conformity with the Stańczyk Circle, the (...) publications of Walerian Kalinka, Stanisław Tarnowski, Michał Bobczyński, Józef Szujski and Stanisław Koźmian were also used. While working on the topic, the author made use of the works specializing in the history of Polish and Western conservative thought published by Ryszard Ludwikowski, Bogdan Szlachta, Jacek Bartyzel, Józef Szacki and the views expressed by the members of the Stańczyk Circle such as Michał Jaskólski, Wojciech Dutka, Stanisław Filipowicz, Henryk Michalak. When examining the above issues, a comparative method was used, tracing both the similarities and differences in the ideas of Lisicki and his colleagues from the Stańczyk Circle. The main thesis formulated in the work is that although Lisicki did not belong to the group of leaders, his close intellectual ties with Stanisław Koźmian gave him a respected position among Krakow conservatives. The analysis of his works confirmed that he was also capable of original reflections which focused on the attitude of the conservatives to the nineteenth-century democratization processes, the evolution of Western absolute monarchies towards the constitution democracies and the expansion of electoral rights. Hence, it was symptomatic for Lisicki and his community to argue, inter alia, for the necessity of rapprochement with moderate liberals, the aim of which was to weaken the danger coming from the revolted masses which were being under the influence of radicals. (shrink)

Our aim in this article is to trace the evolution of the concepts of physical space in Western thought from the Greeks to the Newtonian philosophy of nature. Especially the article presents studies of ancient Greek theories of physical space and place, in particular those of the classical and Hellenistic period. These theories are explained primarily with reference to the general philosophical or methodological framework within which they took shape. Special attention is paid to the interrelations between various concepts of (...) space and with Greek spatial terminology. The arguments of this paper can be summarized as follows: first, the concept of space itself has taken the central position in philosophy of nature; second, the debate about the nature of space has developed several different theories; third, the concept of space has several issues to overcome. (shrink)

The purpose of the present paper is to discuss several metaphorical conceptualizations of the phenomenon of communication from the perspective of cognitive linguistics. Apart from the purely linguistic and philosophical issues, the article touches upon the questions that concern the process of teaching and learning a foreign language (especially the so called "radically different one"). The thesis about our essentially metaphorical understanding of the phenomenon of communication, widely acknowledged in cognitive linguistics, is supported by empirical data drawn from Arabic and (...) several Indo-European languages. Subsequently, the thesis is taken as a point of departure for discussing such issues as the problem of cross-linguistic variation of metaphors and their biological motivation. The paper consists of three sections: the first one examines the metaphor of communication as transfer, the second considers the metaphor of communication as enlightening, whereas the third presents some philosophical observations. The most important conclusion that is drawn here has it that the potential universality of various metaphorical conceptualizations is a very useful heuristic and didactic tool, for the existence of a common ground between languages that are genetically unrelated makes it possible not only to account for the ease with which certain elements of the target language can be translated into the source language, but also to hypothesize about the general mechanisms that are responsible for understanding and acquiring the (radically) different target language. Needless to say, such hypotheses are of paramount importance for the process of teaching and learning a foreign (especially radically different) language. (shrink)

The idea of Corporate Social Responsibility is a priority for the European economy because CSR is promoted by the European Commission as an instrument of European strategy for sustainable development. The paper presents the basic assumptions of this strategy. Although the debate on the European shape of CSR was initiated almost ten years ago some important questions are still under discussion. The paper considers some of them.

On Limited Divine Knowledge in the structure of Open Theism ‘Open Theism,’ also known as ‘open theology,’ ‘open view’ and ‘openness of God’ is not a new philosophical position, but it has not been presented and analyzed in detail in the Polish philosophy of religion. Open theism is a significant modification of the traditional Christian concept of God, some important aspects of God’s nature and God’s relationship with the world created by Him. Briefly speaking, ‘open theism’ is a philosophical model (...) of God and His activity in the world, made on the basis of analytical philosophy of religion, referring to the biblical image of God, including such issues as God’s omniscience, human freedom, the problem of evil and providence. Sometimes ‘open theism’ is also referred to as ‘free will theism’, because it is concerned with the problem of the freedom of human will and the related question of God’s omniscience. It is this latter issue that seems to be regarded by advocates of ‘open theism’ as the essential point. So someone can get the impression that the central content of this philosophical position is the problem of God’s knowledge (His foreknowledge) and the limitations of this knowledgecharacteristic of ‘open theism’. In the light of a closer analysis, however, it turns out that it is important to define precisely the role of the concept of God’s limited knowledge in the structure of ‘open theism.’ This article aims to reconstruct and present the essential elements of the ‘open theism’ with particular emphasis on the role played in it by the concept of God’s limited foreknowledge, and to clarify the place of individual elements of the structure and their relationships. Keywords: open theism, God’s foreknowledge, free will, concept of God. (shrink)

The main purpose of this work is to show the internal theoretical connections of the two fundamental paradigms that describe the evolution of the human species, that is, the Lamarckian paradigm and the Darwinian paradigm. In carrying out this task, I begin by presenting the two evolutionary concepts. Understanding the content of these paradigms allows us to focus on the argumentation proposed by modern evolutionary biologists on the issue of the evolution of Homo sapiens; more precisely, on the paraphrased concept (...) of “genetic drive.” Employed so far in a narrow range of genetic phenomena, it was — thanks to Allan Wilson — transformed into the concept of “cultural drive” and used to explain innovations appearing in not only genetic but also cultural endowments of the human species. This type of application of the concept of cultural drive in the structure of the Homo sapiens theory of evolution has recently been proposed by Kevin Laland. Then I show what kind of deviations are produced by the cultural factors of the evolution of Homo sapiens and how they can not only be included in the mechanisms of species evolution, but also how they constitute the “material” on which civilization changes take place. (shrink)

The genesic philosophy of Juliusz Słowacki, sometimes called his mysticism, is structured and constituted around four basic historiographic concepts as regards mankind. They are: the idea of spiritual progressive development, the concept of spiritual leadership, influence of the world of spirits on human doings, and the aggregation (that is collective) form of the spirit. Progress is the fundamental element of the genesic work of spirits who have been appointed by God to do it. Those form-creating efforts are the nature and (...) the task of the spirits of the “World”. The principle of progress is sacrifice. It means that a spirit has to sacrifice something of its present form in order to receive a more perfect one from God. And thus, on the border of organic forms, a spirit sacrificed its immortality, it sacrificed itself to death. In the genesic system, death is only a break dividing two lives; just like a dream is a break between work of the two days. The spirit that first rose the highest is benefactor to all creation because it shows the way up to everything else. Such a spirit, progressing ahead of others, is the natural guide of the creation, King Spirit. The most fundamental statement of Stowacki’s genesic philosophy is “Everything has been created for the spirit and by the spirit, and there is nothing to exist for the material purpose”. This seems to be most beautifully expressed tribute to the spiritual element of the human nature. (shrink)

The paper is focused on the role of philosophy of chemistry in the philosophy of natural sciences. The author claims that chemistry is a paradigmatic example of laboratory science in Ian Hacking’s sense. Therefore a philosophical and methodological analysis of chemistry can change or modify several theses of the philosophy of natural sciences. Some of them are as follows: the stability of laboratory science; the primacy of experimental practice over the theoretical one in chemistry; the problem of the reduction of (...) chemistry to physics; the influence of scientific instruments on the growth of chemical knowledge; the problem of the empirical criteria of the existence of theoretical entities; the role of theoretical models and theoretical modelling in laboratory sciences; the problem of using the principle of inter- subjective testability in chemistry; the semiotic peculiarities of chemistry. (shrink)

I present argument for different than traditional continental classification of epistemological issues. Paper has two parts, first concerned with K. Ajdukiewicz and J. Woleński conception of epistemology and its branches and with different methods of epistemological inquiry based on different task posed for epistemology. Second part discuss main important topics of current postgettieral analytic epistemology like virtue epistemology, ethics of belief, problems of epistemic value, epistemic value monism and pluralism, metaepistemology and concludes that in traditional continental classification the issues of (...) a truth and the issues of nature of knowledge should be united in broaden set of topics concerned with valuable cognition and knowledge, which has descriptive, normative, and regulative subparts. (shrink)

The paper has outlined a broad perspective of references for the (particular and general) theory of relativity to various domains of human knowledge and to technique. These references are presented both in their current and historical dimension. The following issues are discussed: 1) the place of the theory of relativity in the development of physics and cosmology, 2) its contribution to the development of mathematics, 3) the significance of the theory of relativity in the development of technique, and 4) the (...) role of the theory of relativity in the development of philosophy. The theory of relativity is – aside to quantum mechanics – one of the two basic paradigms (relativistic paradigm) of contemporary physics. Likewise it plays a fundamental role in further development of physics, astronomy and cosmology, contributing at the same time to the development of mathematics and philosophy. The author indicates that it is groundless to refer to the theory of relativity in the efforts to relativise and subjectivise cognitive and axiological questions. The theory of relativity does not relativise all its concepts of magnitudes, but it even confers the absolute status on certain magnitudes, which have been deemed relative before. (shrink)

The article deals with the attitude of Marx and Engels towards the appraisal of labour as a value, and the relation between labour and the implementation of the principle of universal development of the individual personality. First, the changes in their views on the appraisal of labour are discussed. In his Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts Marx understood labour as a spontaneous expression of human thought and the formation of a new environment in which man recognizes his own qualities. In that (...) period Marx considered value to be an affirmation of human life and a requirement put to the individual and to society. In his later, mature works Marks refused to consider an act of labour as value and defined it as conquering nature. The act of labour was to Marx no longer a value but a process which is giving value to human products and, therefore, is a necessary condition of human existence in all social systems. Marx did not regard the act of labour as a postulate or an ideal. In his opinion, the act of labour acquired value depending on its effects for the universal development of all individuals. The Marxian ideal of a perfect man implied a series of postulates relating to the organization of labour. The author criticizes Raymond Aron’s interpretation of Marxian humanism. In the works of Marx, Aron perceives a contradiction between the postulate of universal labour and the postulate of leisure in the meaning of condition in which the idea of the perfect man is realized. According to the author, from the ideal of a perfect man results the postulate of obligatory labour for all members of the society, i.e., that everybody should contribute to the development of the productive forces in order to secure the material conditions for the development of their personality. The realization of Marxian humanism requires also the maintenance of definite proportions between labour determined by the social division of labour, and leisure which should imply not only resting but also activity towards a free development of various individual abilities. In the works of Marx there is no contradiction but a complementary relation between labour and leisure. Pobierz. (shrink)