Sublime, the unclear

The word (signifler) “sublime” appeared for the first time in English in the Middle Ages and there was nothing unusual about it. Alchemists used it. To sublime meant to “subject (a substance) to the action of heat in a vessel so as to convert it into vapour, which is carried off and on cooling is deposited in a solid form”. Latin was the language of research and, in such contexts, the use of a Latin word in any vernacular must have been seen as a matter of course. The appearance of the word was in a sense necessary because alchemy (which is a Greek or Arabic derivation meaning “the art of transmutation”) needed predicates to denote and relate its activities. The simple words like burn, cool, etc. were to be found in the vernacular, but not those denoting more complex activities, such as transmute, sublime or calcine. These had to be taken from Latin — transmutare, sublimare, calcinare — though in the case of English usually indirectly, through French

Non-representation of the wild: marginalization of the nomad

The West’s attitude towards the wild has for several centuries now been characterized by ambiguity. On the one hand there has been the admiration for tigers burning bright, for the sublimity of high mountain peaks, and for the freshness and innocence of what was not yet spoiled by civilization; but on the other hand there has been the fear of and contempt for the uncivilized and primitive. In this paper I shall discuss several aspects of the latter, I shall try to analyse the West’s perception of the nomad - the other who refused to enter what the West considered to be civilization

Selected problems of the process of ensuring national security

The essence of modern national security refers to actions aimed at guaranteeing the survival of a nation in the stable territorial state borders as well as its comprehensive and undisturbed development. In the light of the presented evolution of the term “national security” and the essence of the process of providing this security, the article presents a new approach to the strategic basis for this process. The selected issues of the process of providing national security discussed in the article may serve as a basis for improving the rationality of public administration efforts to ensure existential and behavioral needs of the society

Teoria literatury poza modą - recenzja

Recenzja książek: Peter V. Zima, Philosophy of Modern Literary Theory, London & New Brunswick NJ, The Athlon Press 1999. New Christopher, Philosophy of Literature. An Introduction, London & New York, Routledge 199

The identity of the commander : nomad organization against the state

"In Geronimo, a film by Walter Hill, there is a scene in which a detachment of US cavalry encounters in the mountains of Arizona a small group of Chiricahua Apache warriors. The Indians, single file as usual, appear unexpectedly on the left at a distance of a few hundred metres, a kilometre perhaps, and for a minute or so the two parties ride parallel to each other slowly and gingerly. Suddenly the Indian who heads the file starts galloping towards the US cavalrymen. Their commander, lieutenant Charles Gatewood, raises his hand to stop the column and alone rides forward about a hundred metres, then stops. The galloping Apache also stops and begins to shout to Gatewood." (fragm.

EVALUATION OF SAP SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IN AN ENTERPRISE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY – CASE STUDY

Modern businesses boost management by implementing integrated IT systems, such as highly popular in Poland – SAP software, to aid the enterprise resource planning (ERP). This paper evaluates the implementation of an ERP system at a steel wheel rims manufacturer and distributor. The main research method was questionnaire, conducted at the Logistics & Customer Service department. The data acquired from the conducted research were analysed and processed to evaluate the implemented solution. Areas for improvement were pinpointed and concerned the adjustment of the software solution to the needs of the enterprise

Kamuflaż kontra honor

The idea of camouflage stands in opposition to chivalry, and in particular in opposition to honour and courage. For ages knights and warriors wanted to be seen and recognized, as they could not win fame and glory by hiding and outsmarting their enemy. Surprise attacks carried out from hiding were the domain of highwaymen and other kinds of dishonourable riffraff. The ap­pearance of camouflage, though gradual, marks a change in our civilization's perception of warfare, and perhaps conflict in general, when it became more important to be cunning and efficient rather than honourable and brave

O mądrości : wbrew sobie

The article discusses the difficulties which anyone willing to write or speak on wisdom must face. These are, on the one hand, problems of an ethical and psychological nature, as contemporary society is less and less inclined to hear about wisdom at all. One could even claim that many consider the idea of wisdom to be archaic and unhelpful in their understanding of a rapidly changing reality. On the other hand, wisdom is mysterious and paradoxical in itself; therefore we are not able to define it. Then, while reflecting on wisdom, we ultimately realize that we have no idea what we are writing about. The solution can be to trust the ancient sages, who knew what wisdom was and who handed its principles down to us