EDITORIAL

“The other is the beginning of thinking. Nothing gives rise to thought as much as the other,” Tischner said (Cf. Spotkanie. Z ks. Józefem Tischnerem rozmawia Anna Karoń-Ostrowska [Encounter. Anna Karoń-Ostrowska in Conversation with Father Józef Tischner]). This forthright statement suffices to make one consider the role that the concept of the other has played in philosophy. In studying Tischner’s philosophical writings, we soon discover that the notions of the other, the encounter, and dialogue are present throughout his work. Hence the topic of this year’s Thinking in Values.

The “Focus on Tischner” section offers two articles, the first of which introduces the reader to the concept of the other in Tischner’s philosophical anthropology, while the latter, “Man Within Metaphors” — its scope going far beyond this year’s topic — provides a new understanding of the metaphor in Tischner’s philosophy. In the “Tischner on Dialogue and Encounter” section we present texts by Tischner himself, whereas “On Dialogue and Encounter” contains articles written specifically for our journal that not only comment upon his thought but successfully endeavor to develop it. Thus they prove that the issues of encounter and dialogue with the other are timely and far-reaching philosophical problems, and that Tischner’s distinctive thought still serves as inspiration for further inquiry.

In the last section, “Tischner Institute Recommends,” we are highlighting Zbigniew Stawrowski’s book Natural Law and Political Order. These excerpts focus on Plato’s thinking on human nature, law, and community.

Can one be brought closer to an experience through reading about it? This is a philosophical question in itself. And yet, dialogue and the encounter with the other are fundamental human experiences, and reading is tied to thinking, which imperceptibly brings us nearer to experience. Thus, we allow ourselves to nourish the hope that, with these texts, that which is essential will be more within our reach.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. FOCUS on tischner

"The Place of the Other in Józef Tischner’s Philosophical Anthropology" by Marek Drwięga

"Man Within Metaphors" by Dobrosław Kot

II. TISCHNER ON DIALOGUE AND ENCOUNTER

"Phenomenology of the Encounter"

"The Offroads of Encounters"

"A Response to a Question, or: Reciprocity"

"Evil in the Domain of Dialogue"

"The Axiological-I in Dialogue"

III. ON DIALOGUE AND ENCOUNTER: ARTICLES, COMMENTARIES, POLEMICS

"In Search of the Dia-logical Sense of the Encounter" by Jacek Filek

"The Embodied Encounter: The Aporias of the Concept of the Encounter in Józef Tischner’s Philosophy" by Adam Workowski

"Dialogue or Monologue?" by Anna Karoń-Ostrowska

"Thinking in Dialogue" by Anna Fraś

"Vis-a-vis with the Absolute Thou?" by Piotr Sikora

IV. TISCHNER INSTITUTE RECOMMENDS

"Natural Law and Political Order" by Zbigniew Stawrowski

EDITORIAL

It's the great pleasure for us to inform You that the second annual issue of Thinking in Values, entitled “Agathology”, has been released. What is agathology? One might suppose – following the meaning of the Greek words agaton and logos – that agathology is an aspect of philosophy and its subject is the good, so that it is simply ontology, or the phenomenology of the good. However, reading Tischner’s texts, and especially The Philosophy of Drama and The Controversy Over the Existence of Man, leads us toward the conclusion that agathological thinking requires abandoning these fields of philosophy and entering an entirely new territory of thinking about man in the horizon of the good. The review of Tischner’s texts in the “Tischner on Agathology” section enables us to follow through the evolution that took place in his thinking, and which in short may be defined as: from thinking in values toward thinking in terms of good. The earliest texts from our selection come from the 70’s (The Axiological Impressions were published in 1970), the latest – an excerpt from The Controversy Over the Existence of Man – from the end of the 90’s.

In the section “On Agathology” you will find polemics against Tischner’s concept of thinking in terms of agathology. It is significant that some of them originated during discussions with Tischner, others are the fruit of heated debates during the Tischner Days which have taken place in Kraków for 8 years, on the initiative of academic centers with which Józef Tischner was connected: the Jagiellonian University, the Tischner Institute, the Pontifical Academy of Theology, the State Theatre Academy in Kraków and Znak Publishers, with which Tischner was associated from the very beginning of his work as a writer.

This year we recommend Adam Hernas’ book “Time and Presence.” The book deals with the philosophy of man, describing the most significant of man’s experiences: such as despair, death, love, birth of a child, or hope. We also encourage you to read the two articles in the section called “Tischner’s Focus.” This year we offer texts that will introduce you to Tischner’s philosophy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. TISCHNER`S FOCUS

"What Is Thinking in Values?" by ADAM WĘGRZECKI

"Paths of Damnation, Paths of Salvation" by KAROL TARNOWSKI

II. TISCHNER ON AGATHOLOGY

"Axiological Pieces"

"Thinking in Values"

"The Good"

"Agathology"
"Wandering within the Heart of the Good"

"For the Existence of Man: An Ontological Argument"

"Freedom As a Manner of Existence of the Good"

III. ON AGATHOLOGY: ARTICLES, COMMENTARIES, POLEMICS

"Being and Good" by WŁADYSŁAW STRÓŻEWSKI

"The Agathological Man" by BARBARA SKARGA

"Man Facing Values or Man Facing Man?" by JACEK FILEK

"On the Uncanniness of Good" by CEZARY WODZIŃSKI

"The Subject Facing Goodness" by ALEKSANDER BOBKO

"The Religious Perspective in Tischner's Philosophy" by ALEKSANDER BOBKO

IV. TISCHNER INSTITUTE RECOMMENDS

"Hope" by ADAM HERNAS

EDITORIAL

We are glad to recommend You the reading of the first annual issue of Thinking in values, which is dedicated to the topic of solidarity. Why solidarity? Not only is it one of the most important concepts of Tischner`s philosophy, but it is also one of the most important events in the recent history of Poland and Europe. More importantly, solidarity is an idea which continually enriches our thinking about the modern world.

When Tischner began his studies of the idea of solidarity he was convinced that it can be saturated with a concrete content by the experience of August `80 in Poland. He believed that thanks to analyzing this experience he would reach the ethical, social and religious dimensions of solidarity. In the section "Tischner on Solidarity" you will find a selection of texts that show Tischner`s engagements with the phenomenon of solidarity in the 80`s. We also recommend the text "Solidarity Years Later", written from the perspective of the 90`s.

In this idea useful to clarify and understand what community means, and are we ready to embrace this idea? The section "On Solidarity: Articles, Commentaries, Polemics" features articles that came into being in recent years. They take up Tischner`s analyses and the experience of August `80, however, above all, they demonstrate that solidarity is a relevant social, moral, and ethical idea.

This year we recommend Professor Karol Tarnowski`s book To hear the Invisible, which is a complete and especially profound study of the problem of faith. We also encourage you to take a look at the first article in our journal, from the section "Tischner`s Focus". This year we have prepared for you a systematic introduction to Tischner`s philosophy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. TISCHNER`S FOCUS

"Philosophical Anthropology as the Main Thread of Tischner`s Work" by ALEKSANDER BOBKO

II. TISCHNER ON SOLIDARITY

"Perspectives of the New Ethos of Work"

"The Ethics of Solidarity"

"The Ethics of Solidarity Years Later"

III. ON SOLIDARITY: ARTICLES, COMMENTARIES, POLEMICS

"Several Reflections on the Theme of Solidarity" by CHARLES TAYLOR

"Solidarity and Barbarity" by CHANTAL MILLON-DELSOL

"On Solidarity Somewhat Theologically" by JACEK SALIJ

"Solidarity Without Solidarity" by DOBROSŁAW KOT

"The Solidarity Community: A Phenomenological Analysis" by ADAM WORKOWSKI

"August 1980 in Light of the Republican Tradition" by DARIUSZ GAWIN

" 'Solidarity' as Church" by DARIUSZ KARŁOWICZ

"Solidarity Means a Bond" by ZBIGNIEW STAWROWSKI

IV. TISCHNER INSTITUTE RECOMMENDS

"Fundamental Faith" by KAROL TARNOWSKI