Positivism in Poland
Encyclopedia
Positivism
in Poland was a socio-cultural movement that defined progressive thought in literature
and social sciences of Partitioned Poland
following the suppression of the 1863 January Uprising
against the occupying army of Imperial Russia. The Positivist period lasted until the turn of the 20th century, and the advent of the Young Poland
movement.
, Prussia
and Austro-Hungary, by force of arms, should be abandoned. Along with polemics which questioned the wisdom of resistance published between 1868–1873 in the Weekly Review (Przegląd tygodniowy) and Truth (Prawda) they – often reluctantly and only partially – set aside the style of the Romantic period
.
Polish "Positivism" drew its name from the Frenchman Auguste Comte
's philosophy but much of its ideology also from the works of British
scholars and scientists, including Herbert Spencer
and John Stuart Mill
. The Polish Positivists advocated the exercise of reason before emotion. They argued that independence, if it is to be regained, must be won gradually, by "building from the foundations" (creating a material infrastructure and educating the public) and through "organic work" that would enable Polish society to function as a fully integrated social organism (a concept borrowed from Herbert Spencer
).
One of the leading Polish philosophers of Positivism; novelist and short-story writer, Bolesław Prus (The Outpost
, The Doll
, The New Woman), advised his compatriots that Poland's place in the world would be determined by the contributions that it made to the world's scientific, technological, economic and cultural progress.
Specific societal questions addressed by the Polish Positivists included the establishment of equal rights
for all members of society, including peasants and women
; the assimilation
of Poland's Jewish minority
; the illiteracy rates among ordinary citizens resulting from the closure of Polish schools, and the defense of Polish population in the German-ruled part of Poland against Kulturkampf
and their violent displacement
by German government.
The Positivists viewed work, not the popular uprisings, as the true way to maintain a Polish national identity
and demonstrate a constructive patriotism
. Writer Aleksander Świętochowski
(the editor of Prawda), maintained that virtually all "great problems hidden in the womb of mankind can be solved by education alone, and this education must be compulsory."
Positivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
in Poland was a socio-cultural movement that defined progressive thought in literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and social sciences of Partitioned Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
following the suppression of the 1863 January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
against the occupying army of Imperial Russia. The Positivist period lasted until the turn of the 20th century, and the advent of the Young Poland
Young Poland
Young Poland is a modernist period in Polish visual arts, literature and music, covering roughly the years between 1890 and 1918. It was a result of strong aesthetic opposition to the ideas of Positivism...
movement.
Overview
In the aftermath of the 1863 Uprising, many Poles began to voice an opinion that further attempts at regaining independence from RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Austro-Hungary, by force of arms, should be abandoned. Along with polemics which questioned the wisdom of resistance published between 1868–1873 in the Weekly Review (Przegląd tygodniowy) and Truth (Prawda) they – often reluctantly and only partially – set aside the style of the Romantic period
Romanticism in Poland
Romanticism in Poland was a literary, artistic and intellectual period in the evolution of Polish culture that began around 1820, coinciding with the publication of Adam Mickiewicz's first poems in 1822. It ended with the suppression of the January 1863 Uprising against the Russian Empire in 1864. ...
.
Polish "Positivism" drew its name from the Frenchman Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
's philosophy but much of its ideology also from the works of British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
scholars and scientists, including Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era....
and John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant. An influential contributor to social theory, political theory, and political economy, his conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of...
. The Polish Positivists advocated the exercise of reason before emotion. They argued that independence, if it is to be regained, must be won gradually, by "building from the foundations" (creating a material infrastructure and educating the public) and through "organic work" that would enable Polish society to function as a fully integrated social organism (a concept borrowed from Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era....
).
One of the leading Polish philosophers of Positivism; novelist and short-story writer, Bolesław Prus (The Outpost
The Outpost (novel)
The Outpost was the first of four major novels by the Polish writer Bolesław Prus. The author sought to bring attention to the plight of rural Poland, which had to contend with poverty, ignorance, neglect on the part of the country's upper crust, and colonization by German settlers backed by Otto...
, The Doll
The Doll (novel)
The Doll is the second of four major novels by the Polish writer Bolesław Prus. It was composed for periodical serialization in 1887-89 and appeared in book form in 1890....
, The New Woman), advised his compatriots that Poland's place in the world would be determined by the contributions that it made to the world's scientific, technological, economic and cultural progress.
Specific societal questions addressed by the Polish Positivists included the establishment of equal rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for all members of society, including peasants and women
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
; the assimilation
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
of Poland's Jewish minority
History of the Jews in Poland
The history of the Jews in Poland dates back over a millennium. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jewish community in the world. Poland was the centre of Jewish culture thanks to a long period of statutory religious tolerance and social autonomy. This ended with the...
; the illiteracy rates among ordinary citizens resulting from the closure of Polish schools, and the defense of Polish population in the German-ruled part of Poland against Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
and their violent displacement
Prussian deportations
The Prussian deportations were mass expulsions of ethnic Poles from Prussia in between 1885–1890. More than 30,000 Poles with Austrian or Russian citizenship were deported from the Prussian part of divided Poland to the respective Austrian and Russian occupation zones...
by German government.
The Positivists viewed work, not the popular uprisings, as the true way to maintain a Polish national identity
National identity
National identity is the person's identity and sense of belonging to one state or to one nation, a feeling one shares with a group of people, regardless of one's citizenship status....
and demonstrate a constructive patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. Writer Aleksander Świętochowski
Aleksander Swietochowski
Aleksander Świętochowski was a Polish writer, educator, and philosopher of the Positivist period that followed the January 1863 Uprising.He was widely regarded as the prophet of Polish Positivism, spreading in the Warsaw...
(the editor of Prawda), maintained that virtually all "great problems hidden in the womb of mankind can be solved by education alone, and this education must be compulsory."
Leading authors
Writers and novel Novel A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century.... ists
Poet Poet A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary... s:
|
Dramatists:
Critics, philosophers
|
See also
- History of PolandHistory of PolandThe History of Poland is rooted in the arrival of the Slavs, who gave rise to permanent settlement and historic development on Polish lands. During the Piast dynasty Christianity was adopted in 966 and medieval monarchy established...
- Polish literaturePolish literaturePolish literature is the literary tradition of Poland. Most Polish literature has been written in the Polish language, though other languages, used in Poland over the centuries, have also contributed to Polish literary traditions, including Yiddish, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, German and...
- History of philosophy in Poland
- List of Poles (literature)