Józef Tischner
Encyclopedia
Józef Stanisław Tischner (March 12, 1931 – June 28, 2000) was an eminent Polish
priest
and philosopher. The first chaplain of the trade union
, "Solidarity" (Polish Solidarność), he was an exceptional moral authority and one of the most admired figures in Poland, both during and after the anti-communist uprising.
Tischner was born in Stary Sącz
to a Góral
family and grew up in the village Łopuszna in the south east of Poland. He studied at Jagiellonian University
in Kraków
. In the 1970s he became an important writer of the opposition movement against the communist dictatorship
of the People's Republic of Poland
. In 1980s he was considered the semi-official chaplain of the Solidarity movement, and was praised by Pope John Paul II
.
After the fall of communism in 1989, he continued preaching the importance of ethics
in the new capitalist
Poland. In September 1999, Tischner received the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest decoration.
Tischner remains a controversial figure to the Polish right-wing and Catholic episcopacy. He frequently criticized Polish religiousness by calling it as flat (shallow) as a pancake, he also accused the Polish clergy of being extremely conservative, engaged in politics and anti-Semite.
Fellow of Collegium Invisibile
as a professor of philosophy.
He died in Kraków
on June 28, 2000.
His two main works, in which he explained his original philosophical concepts, are:
Most notable among his Góral
themed works is:
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and philosopher. The first chaplain of the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, "Solidarity" (Polish Solidarność), he was an exceptional moral authority and one of the most admired figures in Poland, both during and after the anti-communist uprising.
Tischner was born in Stary Sącz
Stary Sacz
Stary Sącz - is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, seat of the municipality Stary Sącz. It's a one of the oldest towns in Poland, founded in 13th century.- Geography :...
to a Góral
Goral
Goral may refer to:* Three species of Asian ungulates in the genus Naemorhedus.* The Gorals, a people living in southern Poland, northern Slovakia and the Czech Republic....
family and grew up in the village Łopuszna in the south east of Poland. He studied at Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in 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...
. In the 1970s he became an important writer of the opposition movement against the communist dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
of the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
. In 1980s he was considered the semi-official chaplain of the Solidarity movement, and was praised by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
After the fall of communism in 1989, he continued preaching the importance of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
in the new capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
Poland. In September 1999, Tischner received the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest decoration.
Tischner remains a controversial figure to the Polish right-wing and Catholic episcopacy. He frequently criticized Polish religiousness by calling it as flat (shallow) as a pancake, he also accused the Polish clergy of being extremely conservative, engaged in politics and anti-Semite.
Fellow of Collegium Invisibile
Collegium Invisibile
Collegium Invisibile is an academic society in Poland, founded in 1995, that affiliates outstanding Polish students with distinguished scholars in accordance with the idea of liberal education...
as a professor of philosophy.
He died in 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...
on June 28, 2000.
Publications
Tischner wrote and published more than 600 articles and books.His two main works, in which he explained his original philosophical concepts, are:
- The Philosophy of Drama (Filozofia dramatu) (1998)
- The Controversy over Human Existence (Spór o istnienie człowieka) (1998)
Most notable among his Góral
Goral
Goral may refer to:* Three species of Asian ungulates in the genus Naemorhedus.* The Gorals, a people living in southern Poland, northern Slovakia and the Czech Republic....
themed works is:
- A Goral History of Philosophy (Historia filozofii po góralsku) (1997)
Sources
- "Nie ma rzeczy niemożliwych" . Magazyn Kulturalny Tygodnika Powszechnego nr 7/8 (56/57), 08 lipca 2001.
- "Lektury nie tylko obowiązkowe". Dziennik Polski, 14 maja 2009.
External links
- http://nauka-polska.pl/dhtml/raporty/ludzieNauki?rtype=opis&objectId=69347&lang=plJózef Tischner in Nauka Polska database OPIInformation Processing CentreInformation Processing Centre is a Polish research institute supervised by Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Its goal is to provide quick and easy access to up-to-date and detailed databases about science in Poland as part of Polish and European Union programme...
]
See also
- Knights of the Order of the White Eagle