From experience to a method. The significance of Karol Wojtyła’s habilitation dissertation in the development of his concept of philosophical cognition of man

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/lie.61108

Keywords:

Karol Wojtyła, Wojtyła’s habilitation, Scheler and Wojtyła, experience, exeprience in anthropology, phenomenological experience, phenomenological method

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to show the significance of Wojtyła’s habilitation dissertation in the development of his concept of philosophical cognition of man. His assessment of the usefulness of Scheler’s ethical system for Christian ethics occupies an intermediate position between the demand to take into account first-person experience in cognition in his initial phase of practising philosophy and the proposal to use the phenomenological method to analyse this experience, and the transition from experience to a system, contained in Person and Act. In his habilitation dissertation, Wojtyła analysed the question of man’s inner experience, emphasising its significance for ethics and anthropology. A proper approach to this experience is possible through the phenomenological method. The analysis of Scheler’s system allowed Wojtyła to conclude that although the use of the phenomenological method is necessary in philosophical cognition, it is not sufficient. This method does not cover everything that experience brings. It should also be applied appropriately so that the essential contents of experience are not overlooked. He showed a concrete manner of application of this method to philosophical cognition, and of the combination of this method with the metaphysical method in Person and Act.

References

Bednarski F. W., Wzbogacenie metaetyki tomistycznej w rozprawach kard. K. Wojtyły, “Roczniki Filozoficzne” 28 (1980) 2, p. 17–45.

Gałkowski J. W., The Place of Thomism in the Anthropology of K. Wojtyla, “Angelicum” 65 (1988) 2, p. 181–194.

Hołub G., Mazur P. S., The Experience of Human Being in the Thought of Karol Wojtyła, “Filosofija. Sociologija” 28 (2017) 1, p. 73–83.

Mazur P. S., The Principle Operari Sequitur Esse in Karol Wojtyła’s Study of Person and Act, “The Thomist” 86 (2022), p. 119–137.

Mazur P. S., Wojtyła and Krąpiec. Two Ways of Re-emperizing Thomistic Anthropology, “Roczniki Filozoficzne” 71 (2023) 1, p. 273–288.

Półtawski A., Filozoficzna droga Karola Wojtyły, “Kwartalnik Filozoficzny” 41 (2013) 1, p. 5–14.

Ślipko T., The Concept of Value in the Ethical Thought of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, “Forum Philosophicum” 1 (2006), p. 7–28.

Wojtyła K., O humanizmie św. Jana od Krzyża, “Znak” 6 (1951) 1, p. 6–20; reprinted in: Ku jedności świata. Wybór artykułów z miesięcznika “Znak” w 60. rocznicę powstania pisma, ed. M. Bardel, Kraków 2006, p. 91–104.

Wojtyła K., Problem doświadczenia w etyce, “Roczniki Filozoficzne” 17 (1969) 2, p. 5–24.

Wojtyła K., Rozważania o istocie człowieka. Considerations on the Essence of Man, trans. J. Grondelski, Lublin–Roma 2016.

Wojtyła K., Ocena możliwości zbudowania etyki chrześcijańskiej przy założeniach systemu Maksa Schelera, Lublin 1959.

Wojtyła K., “Person and Act” and Related Essays, trans. G. Ignatik, Washington, D.C. 2021.

Wojtyła K., Wykłady lubelskie, Lublin 2006.

Downloads

Published

2023-06-30

Issue

Section

Articles