O dwóch cywilizacjach w myśli Michała Pawlikowskiego (1887–1970)

In: Sprawy narodowościowe, Heft 40, S. 119-135

Abstract

On Two Civilizations in Michał Pawlikowski's ThoughtMichał Pawlikowski (1887–1970) was a Polish essayist, poet, publisher, editor, and bibliophile. Since World War I, he was an activist of the National Democratic Party (later the National Party). After World War II, he settled in Great Britain, temporarily staying in Zakopane, Poland. Pawlikowski is the author of essays and journalism, where he collected his philosophical views on nation and culture, as well as on civilization and race. He sought cause and effect relationships in the history of humanity as factors that shaped the contemporary world. In his opinion, the world is divided between two mutually antagonistic civilizations: Western and Eastern. Such a perspective of his thought has been inscribed in Polish wider reflection on the nation. It is close to messianic concepts that were held by Romantic thinkers and artists, while at the same time it contains tints of national megalomania. His writings can be termed controversial and are often characterized as being full of discrepancies, as well as simplifying a number of complex issues; in particular, in his opponents' views Pawlikowski's thought is too close to conspiracy theory of history. Alternatively Pawlikowski deserves recognition for his depictions of man as a free human being who has a potential to make individual choices in accordance with ethical ideals and obligations towards the community.