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1

Z Marcellem Venezianim o bogach i tęsknocie za nimi (recenzja).

100%

Grzeszczak J.

Poznańskie Studia Teologiczne

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2020

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issue 37

175-194

EN

This review article is an attempt to introduce the Polish reader to the most important aspects of Marcello Veneziani’s book Nostalgia degli dei. Una visione del mondo in dieci idee (The longing for gods: Vision of the world in ten ideas), published in 2019. The Italian author, philosopher, journalist, writer and TV commentator, addresses the problem of diseases plaguing contemporary Western civilization that threaten its further existence. The book is a proposal to return to metaphysical thinking, but in a way akin to a contemporary pop version, and Veneziani’s gods, close to Platonism, are metaphors and ‘penultimate deities’: Civilisation, Homeland, Family, Community, Tradition, Myth, Fate, Soul, God and Return. The article provides a subjective review of the content of Veneziani’s book and juxtaposes it with Joseph Ratzinger’s famous proposal addressed to contemporary non-believers, that is, ‘to live as if God existed’ (veluti si Deus daretur).

2

Zachodni indywidualizm a konfucjańska apoteoza grupy i tożsamości grupowej

71%

Gawlikowski K.

Azja-Pacyfik

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2020

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issue XXIII

36-76

EN

The study presents one of the fundamental differences between Western and Confucian civilisations: individualistic western interpretation of self versus Confucian group-self (we-self) and group identity. The study starts with Hong Kong scholars’ opinions: which western concepts are entirely alien to Chinese tradition. According to them, an individual is not treated there as the highest value nor has attributed ‘innate dignity’, as in the West. Equality is rejected, because all social relations are based there on a hierarchical order. The concepts and ideals of individual autonomy, of self-direction, freedoms and rights had also been unknown there, like many other western concepts, since they have Christian and Greek-Roman roots. The author subscribes to F.W. Mote’s conclusion that there is a ‘cosmological gulf’ between Chinese and western civilisations. The author considers right Qian Mu’s opinion that the creation of social, human nature of each individual is a fundamental concept of Chinese civilisation, hence the state is treated as a kind of one gigantic school, in which all citizens are considered ‘pupils’, and all ‘chiefs’, from father to emperor, as respected ‘tutors’. The principle of maintaining harmony and unity excludes various partial visions and different personal political options since consensus is required and individual criticism, in particular towards all ‘authorities’ is condemned. The study presents various explanations and concepts of ‘Confucian self’ (Chinese, Japanese and Korean), among them ‘group self’, ‘contextual self’, ‘enlarged’ and primitive ‘small self’, ‘multiple self’, self as a ‘centre of relationships’, ‘dependent personality’, ‘sacredness of group life’, the idea of group unity ‘being one in soul and body’, etc. The author presents in detail Roger T. Ames’ concept of Confucian self as ‘focus-in-the-field’ indicating that it explains well the different social position of individuals, which could vary from ‘small’ and insignificant to ‘gigantic’. The study outlines as well the religious Chinese context of such concepts. Owing to such an emphasis on group and not personal self, it is difficult to understand properly and adapt the fundamental western political concepts such as human rights and liberal democracy since they serve autonomous individuals lacking in East Asia. The study outlines the education process and the essential concepts of how children have to be educated in the Confucian tradition. These realities change, of course, but slowly and merely partially, since the traditional concepts still serve well social needs and efficient modernization. In the end, the author indicates a broader cultural context in which such concepts of self could operate. For instance, Confucian tradition glorifies harmony, accord and maintaining consensus, whereas it condemns struggle, quarrels and open criticism of others, in particular of authorities. Western individual protests and criticism challenge this approach. When the Christian concepts of brotherhood, love of one’s neighbour and equality were lacking, and all other communities in the same country are treated as ‘alien’ and ‘potentially harmful’, it was difficult to form national identity and solidarity. Moreover, under such circumstances, wide interests and engagement in politics of the state could not appear. Hence ‘culturalism’, based on group cultural identity, instead of nationalism evolved. The western individualistic spirit of adventure, traveling, seeking something new was also lacking, on the contrary, the Confucian ideal was to live together with one’s family in a native village/community. This cultural and social context is an obstacle to this day to the adaptation of western institutions and values related to individual.

3

„Ucieczka od wolności” – kryzys zaufania do demokracji liberalnej. Zjawisko przejściowe czy długotrwała tendencja?

57%

Dobrowolski T.

Krakowskie Studia Międzynarodowe

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2017

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issue 4

131-147

PL

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest próba odpowiedzi na pytanie, dlaczego w krajach Europy należących do zachodniego kręgu cywilizacyjnego w ostatnich latach wybuchł kryzys zaufania do demokracji liberalnej oraz w jaki sposób można go pokonać. Zdaniem autora, głównym powodem tego kryzysu jest bardzo instrumentalny stosunek dużej części obywateli tych państw do tej formy rządów. Darzą ją oni akceptacją i zaufaniem tylko do momentu, do którego zapewnia im dobrobyt i poczucie bezpieczeństwa, co obecnie – w ich przekonaniu – nie ma miejsca. Dlatego też, chcąc zmienić ten negatywny stan rzeczy, należy sprawić, by ponownie – w ramach demokracji liberalnej – ich potrzeby i aspiracje zaspokajane były na akceptowalnym przez nich poziomie. W tym celu konieczne jest spełnienie szeregu warunków, do których należy m.in.: przywrócenie zaufania obywateli do organów władzy oraz procedur wyborczych, podjęcie energicznych działań przeciwko rosnącym nierównościom społecznym, wzmożenie przez państwa działań na rzecz skutecznego zwalczania międzynarodowego terroryzmu – aczkolwiek z poszanowaniem liberalnych i demokratycznych wartości oraz wolności i praw człowieka – oraz rzeczywistej integracji przybyszy z innych kręgów cywilizacyjnych, przede wszystkim ze świata islamu. Jednocześnie politycy oraz przedstawiciele świata mediów powinni powrócić do dyskursu opartego na wartościach, na których zbudowane zostały ustroje państw europejskich należących do zachodniego kręgu cywilizacyjnego.

EN

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) constitutes an important pillar in the regulatory system of international economic relations. The Group can be seen as a modern equivalent of the nineteenthcentury “concert of powers”. Five characteristics of the latter – 1) special role of great powers; 2) semi-openness; 3) main purpose of serving the interest of its members; 4) accepting intervention into affairs of non-members; 5) limited institutionalization – can also be used to describe FATF. The article elaborates on the multiple similarities, while also discussing the differences between both systems. The conclusion is that despite its minor drawbacks, the FATF model is an efficient and effective tool in combating crime and terrorism, and as such is beneficial for the whole international community, not only the very members of the Group.

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1 Azja-Pacyfik

1 Krakowskie Studia Międzynarodowe

1 Poznańskie Studia Teologiczne

1 Dobrowolski T.

1 Gawlikowski K.

1 Grzeszczak J.

2 2020

1 2017

Z Marcellem Venezianim o bogach i tęsknocie za nimi (recenzja).

Zachodni indywidualizm a konfucjańska apoteoza grupy i tożsamości grupowej

„Ucieczka od wolności” – kryzys zaufania do demokracji liberalnej. Zjawisko przejściowe czy długotrwała tendencja?