Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw
Encyclopedia
Institute of Philosophy of the University of Warsaw
(Polish Instytut filozofii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego) is a research institution located in Warsaw, part of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Warsaw. It is renowned mainly for its contribution to the development of modern logic
and analytic philosophy
(Lvov-Warsaw School
- Alfred Tarski
, Jan Łukasiewicz, Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
, Tadeusz Kotarbiński
, Stanisław Leśniewski) and to history of ideas
(Warsaw School of the History of Ideas - Władysław Tatarkiewicz, Stanisław Ossowski, Maria Ossowska
, Leszek Kołakowski, Adam Schaff
). Provides master's degree studies, doctor's degree studies and postgraduate studies in philosophy both in Polish and in English.
was Kraków
- history of philosophy in Warsaw begins in the 18th century. In the pre-partition Varsovian institiutions, the Collegium Nobilium
and the Szkoła Rycerska to the lecturers of philosophy belonged Antoni Wiśniewski and Marcin Nikuta. In the 19th century, after the foundation of the University of Warsaw in 1815, due to russification
of the schools Polish philosophy, both idealist and positivist, developed mainly outside universities. Among main Polish philosophers connected with the 19th century University of Warsaw were Adam Zabellewicz and Henryk Struve.
, Stanisław Leśniewski, Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
and Stanisław Schayer.
Initially, philosophical education were organized in the Faculty of Historical-Philosophical Studies (1915–16), soon transformed into the Faculty of Philosophical Studies (1916–27), and then into the Faculty of the Humanities (Tatarkiewicz, Kotarbiński and Schayer) and the Faculty of Mathematical Studies and Physics (Łukasiewicz, Leśniewski and Ajdukiewicz).
Other important philosophers teaching in Warsaw were Alfred Tarski
, Henryk Elzenberg, Maria Ossowska
and Stanisław Ossowski. Worldwide renown in logic
and analytic philosophy
was enjoyed by the Warsaw School of Logic, part of the philosophical movement of Lvov-Warsaw School
.
During the German occupation of Warsaw secret courses of philosophy were conducted by Łukasiewcz, Tatarkiewicz, Kotarbiński and others.
(1956) a separate Faculty of Philosophical Studies (1954–65) emerged from the Faculty of Arts and many leading philosophers were allowed to teach. It was subsequently transformed into the Faculty of Philosophical-Sociological Studies (1965–68).
In the 50. and 60. Warsaw School of the History of Ideas emerged. To this informal group of non-analytical philosophers belonged mainly former marxists (called "revisionist"), inspired to some extent by the ideas of Tatarkiewicz and Ossowskis. After the Polish March (1968), when many "revisionist" Polish philosophers and sociologists (for example Leszek Kołakowski, Zygmunt Bauman
, Adam Schaff
) participated in the events, philosophy at Warsaw University was subjected to a thorough reorganization. Chairs were renamed to departments and the Faculty of Philosophical Studies were forcibly joined with the Faculty of Sociology, within which the Institute of Philosophy was established.
In the post-war period the tradition of Lvov-Warsaw School was also continued. To the most important philosophers and logicians of the post-war period connected with the University of Warsaw belong Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
, Zdzisław Augustynek, Bronisław Baczko, Marek Fritzhand, Henryk Jankowski
, Andrzej Kasia, Leszek Kołakowski, Władysław Krajewski, Tadeusz Kroński, Jan Legowicz, Stefan Morawski, Elżbieta Pietruska-Madej, Marian Przełęcki, Adam Schaff
, Marek Siemek
, Adam Sikora, Roman Suszko, Klemens Szaniawski and Bogusław Wolniewicz.
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
(Polish Instytut filozofii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego) is a research institution located in Warsaw, part of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology of the University of Warsaw. It is renowned mainly for its contribution to the development of modern logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
and analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy is a generic term for a style of philosophy that came to dominate English-speaking countries in the 20th century...
(Lvov-Warsaw School
Lwów–Warsaw School of Logic
The Lwów–Warsaw School of Logic was headed by Kazimierz Twardowski, who had been a student of Franz Brentano and is regarded as the "father of Polish logic."-History:...
- Alfred Tarski
Alfred Tarski
Alfred Tarski was a Polish logician and mathematician. Educated at the University of Warsaw and a member of the Lwow-Warsaw School of Logic and the Warsaw School of Mathematics and philosophy, he emigrated to the USA in 1939, and taught and carried out research in mathematics at the University of...
, Jan Łukasiewicz, Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz was a Polish philosopher and logician, a prominent figure in the Lwów–Warsaw school of logic. He originated many novel ideas in semiotics, including the "categorial grammar" used by many formal linguists...
, Tadeusz Kotarbiński
Tadeusz Kotarbinski
Tadeusz Kotarbiński , a pupil of Kazimierz Twardowski, was a Polish philosopher, logician, one of the most representative figures of the Lwów-Warsaw School, and a member of the Polish Academy of Learning as well as the Polish Academy of Sciences...
, Stanisław Leśniewski) and to history of ideas
History of ideas
The history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
(Warsaw School of the History of Ideas - Władysław Tatarkiewicz, Stanisław Ossowski, Maria Ossowska
Maria Ossowska
Maria Ossowska was a Polish sociologist and social philosopher.-Life:...
, Leszek Kołakowski, Adam Schaff
Adam Schaff
Adam Schaff was a Polish Marxist philosopher.-Life:Schaff studied economics at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques et Economiques in Paris, and philosophy in Poland, specializing in epistemology. In 1945 he received a philosophy degree at Moscow University, and in 1948 he returned to Warsaw...
). Provides master's degree studies, doctor's degree studies and postgraduate studies in philosophy both in Polish and in English.
The 18th and 19th century
The main centre of the medieval and early modern Polish philosophyHistory of philosophy in Poland
The history of philosophy in Poland parallels the evolution of philosophy in Europe in general. Polish philosophy drew upon the broader currents of European philosophy, and in turn contributed to their growth...
was Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
- history of philosophy in Warsaw begins in the 18th century. In the pre-partition Varsovian institiutions, the Collegium Nobilium
Collegium Nobilium
-Olomouc:Following the Thirty Years' War, the education in Moravia was firmly in the hands of Jesuits. Moravian nobility were keen to expand the range of areas taught at the University of Olomouc beyond just theology and philosophy. Despite opposition from the Jesuits, the Emperor Leopold I...
and the Szkoła Rycerska to the lecturers of philosophy belonged Antoni Wiśniewski and Marcin Nikuta. In the 19th century, after the foundation of the University of Warsaw in 1815, due to russification
Russification
Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
of the schools Polish philosophy, both idealist and positivist, developed mainly outside universities. Among main Polish philosophers connected with the 19th century University of Warsaw were Adam Zabellewicz and Henryk Struve.
Interwar period
After 1918, when Poland regained independence, University of Warsaw was reorganized. Chairs of philosophy were held by Jan Łukasiewicz, Władysław Tatarkiewicz, Tadeusz KotarbińskiTadeusz Kotarbinski
Tadeusz Kotarbiński , a pupil of Kazimierz Twardowski, was a Polish philosopher, logician, one of the most representative figures of the Lwów-Warsaw School, and a member of the Polish Academy of Learning as well as the Polish Academy of Sciences...
, Stanisław Leśniewski, Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz was a Polish philosopher and logician, a prominent figure in the Lwów–Warsaw school of logic. He originated many novel ideas in semiotics, including the "categorial grammar" used by many formal linguists...
and Stanisław Schayer.
Initially, philosophical education were organized in the Faculty of Historical-Philosophical Studies (1915–16), soon transformed into the Faculty of Philosophical Studies (1916–27), and then into the Faculty of the Humanities (Tatarkiewicz, Kotarbiński and Schayer) and the Faculty of Mathematical Studies and Physics (Łukasiewicz, Leśniewski and Ajdukiewicz).
Other important philosophers teaching in Warsaw were Alfred Tarski
Alfred Tarski
Alfred Tarski was a Polish logician and mathematician. Educated at the University of Warsaw and a member of the Lwow-Warsaw School of Logic and the Warsaw School of Mathematics and philosophy, he emigrated to the USA in 1939, and taught and carried out research in mathematics at the University of...
, Henryk Elzenberg, Maria Ossowska
Maria Ossowska
Maria Ossowska was a Polish sociologist and social philosopher.-Life:...
and Stanisław Ossowski. Worldwide renown in logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
and analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy is a generic term for a style of philosophy that came to dominate English-speaking countries in the 20th century...
was enjoyed by the Warsaw School of Logic, part of the philosophical movement of Lvov-Warsaw School
Lwów–Warsaw School of Logic
The Lwów–Warsaw School of Logic was headed by Kazimierz Twardowski, who had been a student of Franz Brentano and is regarded as the "father of Polish logic."-History:...
.
During the German occupation of Warsaw secret courses of philosophy were conducted by Łukasiewcz, Tatarkiewicz, Kotarbiński and others.
History after 1945
After 1945, during the stalinist era, due to political predominance of marxist philosophy in Poland some professors were partially prohibited from pursuing didactic activity. After the Polish OctoberPolish October
Polish October, also known as October 1956, Polish thaw, or Gomułka's thaw, marked a change in the Polish internal political scene in the second half of 1956...
(1956) a separate Faculty of Philosophical Studies (1954–65) emerged from the Faculty of Arts and many leading philosophers were allowed to teach. It was subsequently transformed into the Faculty of Philosophical-Sociological Studies (1965–68).
In the 50. and 60. Warsaw School of the History of Ideas emerged. To this informal group of non-analytical philosophers belonged mainly former marxists (called "revisionist"), inspired to some extent by the ideas of Tatarkiewicz and Ossowskis. After the Polish March (1968), when many "revisionist" Polish philosophers and sociologists (for example Leszek Kołakowski, Zygmunt Bauman
Zygmunt Bauman
Zygmunt Bauman is a Polish sociologist who, since 1971, has resided in England after being driven out of Poland by an anti-Semitic campaign, engineered by the Communist government which he had previously supported...
, Adam Schaff
Adam Schaff
Adam Schaff was a Polish Marxist philosopher.-Life:Schaff studied economics at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques et Economiques in Paris, and philosophy in Poland, specializing in epistemology. In 1945 he received a philosophy degree at Moscow University, and in 1948 he returned to Warsaw...
) participated in the events, philosophy at Warsaw University was subjected to a thorough reorganization. Chairs were renamed to departments and the Faculty of Philosophical Studies were forcibly joined with the Faculty of Sociology, within which the Institute of Philosophy was established.
In the post-war period the tradition of Lvov-Warsaw School was also continued. To the most important philosophers and logicians of the post-war period connected with the University of Warsaw belong Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz
Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz was a Polish philosopher and logician, a prominent figure in the Lwów–Warsaw school of logic. He originated many novel ideas in semiotics, including the "categorial grammar" used by many formal linguists...
, Zdzisław Augustynek, Bronisław Baczko, Marek Fritzhand, Henryk Jankowski
Henryk Jankowski
Father Henryk Jankowski was a Polish Roman Catholic priest. Member of Solidarity movement and one of the leading priests supporting that movement in opposition to the communist government in the 1980s, he was also a long serving provost of St. Bridget's church in Gdańsk...
, Andrzej Kasia, Leszek Kołakowski, Władysław Krajewski, Tadeusz Kroński, Jan Legowicz, Stefan Morawski, Elżbieta Pietruska-Madej, Marian Przełęcki, Adam Schaff
Adam Schaff
Adam Schaff was a Polish Marxist philosopher.-Life:Schaff studied economics at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques et Economiques in Paris, and philosophy in Poland, specializing in epistemology. In 1945 he received a philosophy degree at Moscow University, and in 1948 he returned to Warsaw...
, Marek Siemek
Marek Siemek
Marek Jan Siemek was a Polish philosopher and historian of German transcendental philosophy...
, Adam Sikora, Roman Suszko, Klemens Szaniawski and Bogusław Wolniewicz.
Current structure
- Analytic Philosophy Department
- prof. Jacek Hołówka (head), dr Bogdan Dziobkowski, dr Justyna Grudzińska
- Epistemology Department
- prof. Andrzej Bednarczyk (head), prof. Józef Andrzej Stuchliński, prof. Bohdan Chwedeńczuk, dr Renata Wieczorek, dr Joanna Gęgotek
- Esthetics Department
- prof. Iwona Lorenc (head), prof. Alicja Kuczyńska, prof. Hanna Puszko-Miś, dr Magdalena Borowska, dr Bohdan Misiuna, dr Małgorzata Szyszkowska, dr Anna Wolińska;
- Ethics Department
- prof. Joanna Górnicka-Kalinowska (head), prof. Zbigniew Szawarski, prof. Magdalena ŚrodaMagdalena ŚrodaMagdalena Środa is a Polish philosopher, professor of ethics at the University of Warsaw, and a feminist author. She is also a columnist for the "Gazeta Wyborcza"...
, dr Wojciech Bober, dr Paweł Łuków, dr Zbigniew Zwoliński
- prof. Joanna Górnicka-Kalinowska (head), prof. Zbigniew Szawarski, prof. Magdalena Środa
- History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy Department:
- prof. Dobrochna Dembińska-Siury (head), prof. Małgorzata Frankowska-Terlecka, prof. Mieczysław Boczar, dr Adam Górniak, dr Krystyna Krauze-Błachowicz, dr Marek Osmański;
- History of Contemporary Philosophy Department
- prof. Andrzej Miś (head), prof. Janusz Kuczyński, prof. Włodzimierz Lorenc, dr Michał Herer, dr Józef Krakowiak, dr Zbigniew Wieczorek
- History of Modern Philosophy Department:
- prof. Jacek Migasiński (head), dr Lucyna Juśkiewicz, dr Michał Kozłowski, dr Jerzy Łoziński, dr Jerzy Niecikowski, dr Marcin Poręba, dr Tomasz Wiśniewski;
- History of Polish Philosophy Department
- prof. Stanisław Pieróg (head), dr Andrzej Kołakowski, dr Tomasz Mazur
- Logic Department
- prof. Mieczysław Omyła, prof. Teresa Hołówka, prof. Marcin Mostowski, prof. Anna Jedynak, prof. Stanisław Krajewski, prof. Krystyna Misiuna, prod. Krzysztof Wójtowicz, dr Cezary Cieśliński, dr Joanna Golińska-Pilarek, dr Jerzy Pluta, dr Tomasz Puczyłowski, dr Anna Wójtowicz, dr Andrzej Zabłudowski, dr Wiesława Żandarowska;
- Logical Semiotics Department
- prof. Jacek Jadacki (head), prof. Jerzy Pelc, prof. Piotr Brykczyński, dr Anna Brożek, dr Aleksandra Horecka, dr Joanna Odrowąż-Sypniewska, dr Mieszko Tałasiewicz;
- Philosophy of Culture Department
- prof. Zofia Rosińska (head), prof. Krzysztof Okopień, dr Marek Nowak, dr Paweł Okołowski, dr Wawrzyniec Rymkiewicz, dr Jerzy Wocial
- Philosophy of Politics Department:
- prof. Barbara Markiewicz (head), dr Agnieszka Nogal
- Philosophy of Science Department
- prof. Witold Strawiński (head), dr Tomasz Bigaj, dr Mariusz Grygianiec;
- Social Philosophy Department
- prof. Marek SiemekMarek SiemekMarek Jan Siemek was a Polish philosopher and historian of German transcendental philosophy...
(head), prof. Aleksander Ochocki, prof. Janusz Dobieszewski, prof. Halina Walentowicz, dr Ewa Borowska, dr Jakub Kloc-Konkołowicz, dr Robert Marszałek, dr Janusz Ostrowski, dr Adam Romaniuk
- prof. Marek Siemek
- French Philosophy Workshop
- prof. Iwona Lorenc, prof. Jacek Migasiński (heads)
- Studies in German Philosophy Workshop
- dr Zbigniew Zwoliński (head)
See also
- Lvov-Warsaw SchoolLwów–Warsaw School of LogicThe Lwów–Warsaw School of Logic was headed by Kazimierz Twardowski, who had been a student of Franz Brentano and is regarded as the "father of Polish logic."-History:...
- Warsaw School of the History of Ideas