Hanuszkiewicz, Wojciech

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www.argument-journal.euARGUMENTVol. 2 (2/2012)pp. 233–234Introduction to the IssueThe first part of the current issue of Argument: Biannual Philosophical Journal brings together a collection of six articles addressing Non-being, Nothingness and Emptiness in various contexts of western and eastern philosophical traditions. All these contributions were presented in Polish in earlier versions during the state seminar held at the Pedagogical University of Cracow on 30–31 May 2011. Some other papers discussed at the same seminar are now being re-edited and will be published in the volume 3 no. 2 (December 2013)of the journal. In the first paper by Piotr Błaszczyk and Kazimierz Mrówka entitled Podwójna negacja w B 2 poematu Parmenidesa [Double Negation in B 2 of Parmenides’ Poem] the poem by Parmenides is recognized as the first known philosophical text applying the law of double negation. Seweryn Blandzi, the author of the next paper on Gorgiasza meontologia vs. nihilizm [Gorgias’ Meontology vs. Nihilism] argues that Gorgias does not defend the nihilistic thesis ‘nothing exists’, commonly attributed to him, but instead demonstrates the absurdity of the hypothesis that there is an absolute transcendent being and advocates for a relative being as such which proves to be a non-being if perceived from the absolute point of view, but is only a  re lative  non-being. Another author Jan Bigaj in his article Rola negacji w opisie świata arystotelesowskiej Metafizyki [The Role of Negation in the Descrip-tion of the World According to Aristotelian Metaphysics] suggests that the Greek term τὸ ὄν and its negation τὸ μὴ ὄν were not meant by Aristotle to be the names of abstract objects, that is being and non-being, unlike in the case of scholastic and modern ontology. A nominalised form of the participle τὸ ὄν and its negation serves here merely a meta-linguistic function. Anna Iwona Wójcik in her paper Krótki przegląd najważniejszych kontekstów, w jakich stosuje się kategorię pustki i nieistnienia w klasycznej filozofii konfucjańskiej i daoistycznej [A Brief Overview of the Most Important Contexts in Which the Categories of Emptiness and Non--Existence are Used in Classical Confucian and Daoist Philosophy] examines three key Chinese concepts: xu (虛), wu (無) and dao (道), and offers an expla-nation of their relevance to the problem of language, ontology, mind and art. In the next article Doświadczenie poznania unicestwiającego w myśli adwajtystycznej [The Experience of Annihilating Cognition in the Philosophy of Advaita] Paweł Sajdek claims that the moment of annihilating cognition according to Advaita 234 Wojciech HanuszkiewiczVedānta, one of the classical Indian schools, is exactly what reveals the delusive nature of reality, but on the other hand, it is also what enables one to approach a higher level of reality, thus manifesting its gradualness. The paper by Marcin Polak Urojone-nic. Pojęcie zasady w Être, monde, imaginaire Stanislasa Bretona [Imaginary-Nothing. The Concept of Principle in Stanislas Breton’s Être, monde, imaginaire] contrasts two different principles of thinking that Breton labels as ‘on-tological’ and ‘ontomythological’. The main category associated with the first one is being, whereas the category of imaginary-nothing is appropriate to the second. The original form of expression of nothing is an imaginary tale, and only thanks to a fairy tale or even childish blabbing are we able to reach the source of reality. The second part of the volume, not addressing the leading theme, consists of two papers in English and two in Polish. The article by Maria Popczyk Fear and Anxiety in the Dimensions of Art considers — within aesthetic and anthropological perspectives — the relationship between fear and pleasure referring, among others, to the idea of catharsis, and the conceptions of Edmund Burke and Paul Virilio. Zuzana Blažeková’s paper entitled Searching for Own Self: on the Boundary between the Ethical and Religious Stage discusses the notions of ‘instant’ and ‘leap’ which refer to the borderline between the aesthetic and ethical stages distinguished by Søren Kierkegaard and make possible an accessing of the authentic existence of the self. The paper by Wojciech Hanuszkiewicz entitled Problem syntetycznych sądów a priori w ujęciu Hermanna Lotzego [The Problem of the Synthetic a priori Judge-ments According to Hermann Lotze] examines the relationship between Lotze’s interpretation of the synthetic a priori judgments and his concept of the intention-al sense which strongly influenced both Gottlob Frege and Edmund  Husserl. Anna Michalska in her article Nauka — dyskurs czy propaganda? Kampania Galileusza w świetle anarchizmu Paula Feyerabenda oraz koncepcji działania komunikacyjnego Jürgena Habermasa [Science — Discourse or Propaganda? Galileo’s ‘Campaign’ in the Light of Paul Feyerabend’s Anarchism and Jürgen Habermas’ Concept of Communicative Action] analyses the case of Galileo and shows that Habermas’ theory of communicative action and the concept of rationality he  applies may serve as an appropriate tool for the study of science, a much better one than those implied by Feyerabend’s methodological anarchism. The current issue of the Argument also includes a Polish translation (by Michał Furman) of Josiah Royce’s essay The Problem of Job, preceded by the translator’s introduction. In addition the volume contains two book reviews (by Łukasz Sochacki and Eliza Kącka) and two calls for papers: for the international con-ference ‘The Relevance of Kierkegaard’ (Cracow on 10–12 June 2013) and for The Third Jaspers Conference. In 130. Anniversary of Karl Jaspers (Cracow on 23 October 2013).Wojciech HanuszkiewiczVolume Editor

Introduction to the issue

Introduction to the IssueThis is the second issue of Argument: Biannual Philosophical Journal. Seven articles — out of the nine presented here to the Reader — undertake our leading theme: Tracing Liminal and Boundary Experience in Philosophical and Religious Discourse. Three articles from that group (written by Małgorzata Bogaczyk-Vormayr, Piotr Augustyniak and Anna Szyrwińska) explore various aspects of the boundary experience in a historical per-spective. The next four pick up the same theme in a contemporary per-spective: the articles of Joachim Piecuch, Tadeusz Gadacz and Antoni Szwed discuss the philosophy of Józef Tischner, the article by Urszula Idziak presents the debate between Jacques Derrida and Paul Ricoeur con-cerning the boundary experience of death. The remaining two articles published here are not connected with the leading theme — Magdalena Nowak presents a history of the concept of Einfühlung and Jacquette Dale tries to improve the diagram method used in logical argument analysis.The article of Małgorzata Bogaczyk-Vormayr Veränderung zur Praktike. Kleine Bemerkungen zur Lebensphilosophie des Evagrios Pontikos analyses the boundary experience of crisis (depression, dissipation, fatigue) which is not necessarily a sign of final defeat, but — according to ancient philos-ophers and the early Christian Desert Fathers — can be a turning point for finding oneself and discovering new possibilities of action. The Greek philosophers and Christian thinkers are here in agreement — the art of life should consist in the capability of accepting the variability of human condition and keeping the balance both in front of luck and lack of luck. This is precisely the aim of a philosophy designed as a practical exercise in the art of dying — it taught not only that life does not last and has its own limits, but also that the experience of these limits can be the source of power and the opportunity of finding inner peace.The article by Piotr Augustyniak Meister Eckhart’s God confronted with the Nietzschean critique of christianity also picks up the problem of the boundary experience of life and death but in the medieval context and in a different perspective. Meister Eckhart tried to eliminate certain draw-www.argument-journal.eu186 Introduction to the Issue backs which appeared in a Christianity connected on the one hand with the common experience of projecting spatial visions on transcendent otherworldliness and, on the other hand, with the pragmatic, trading ra-tionality of everyday life, which sees salvation as the prize obtained in the other world for a good life in this world. Friedrich Nietzsche and Mar-tin Heidegger see here the essence of Christianity as “the Platonism for the masses” but Meister Eckhart’s Christian vision of God and salvation is completely different. Anticipating to a great extent Nietzsche’s cri-tique, Eckhart tries to show that the widely spread medieval metaphysi-cal and anthropological assumptions of Christianity as a concern for one’s own happiness in the other world are wrong. Eckhart maintains that a genuine Christian must understand that his salvation is being re-alized here and now, and that he must undergo the experience of com-pletely giving up the concern for his own happiness. In this process he questions himself radically and becomes ready to accept death. Only such a complete resignation can carry within itself the boundary experi-ence of Gelassenheit, a liberation and calmness which is the beginning of true life.The article by Anna Szyrwińska Die Grundlagen der Normativitat bei Kant und Spener analyses the problem of the transformation of the explic-itly religious and mystical discourse of the founder of German pietism, Philip Spener, into the transcendental philosophy of Kant, which explic-itly rejects all mystical and supernatural connections. In The conflict of the Faculties Kant discusses the Spener problem connected with the the-ological concept of being born again as a result of conversion, he takes over the theme of second birth and of the radical inner change of dispo-sition (Gesinnung). Spener connects the second birth with the necessity of transcending the boundary between the natural and the supernatural, but Kant disagrees with it. According to Kant the inner transformation is done by submission not to a supernatural and divine law, but to the law of reason. In spite of these differences there are important similarities be-tween these two authors. First of all they both assume that reason is the condition of moral actions and capabilities; secondly they both assert the existence of tensions between individual inclinations and general moral law and, in the third place, they both assume that the will of submission to moral law and of following its injunctions is based on the rational rec-ognition of that law. Using these three elements Kant builds a consistent theory of inner moral motivation the general outline of which is already present in Spener’s writings. The religious pattern of second birth, which indicates the boundary experience of sin, and liberation from sin, under-goes a change in Kant, but maintains its validity — to follow the gener- Introduction to the Issue 187al moral rule of action one has to break with individual sensual inclina-tions.The article by Joachim Piecuch Józef Tischner’s phenomenology of bound-ary experience shows Tischner’s phenomenology as realizing Husserl’s pos-tulate (Zurück zu den Sachen selbst) and trying to reach the source experi-ence, due to which the experience of the surrounding world acquires mean-ingful sense. The author shows that consistent phenomenological thinking leads to the conclusion that the idea of source experience is identical with the idea of boundary experience. The ways of apprehending boundary ex-periences depend to a great extent on metaphysical assumptions, which constitute various paradigmatic phenomenologies. There are four phenom-enologies like this in Tischner’s philosophy depending on the different concepts of source experience: 1) the transcendental “I”, 2) the axiological “I”, 3) the historical Dasein, 4) the meeting. The paradigm of meeting — the relation with the Other — deserves particular attention. It is precisely in this relationship that Tischner saw a form of boundary experience which also sets the boundaries of phenomenology itself. Here Tischner follows Lévinas — the face of the Other is not an ordinary object phenomenon, it does not appear in the same way as any other object, but reveals itself as its own expression. According to Tischner being is endowed with meaning-ful sense because of the phenomena of liberty and goodness, but these phe-nomena must be analyzed within the perspective of the boundary experi-ence of meeting.The article of Tadeusz Gadacz Das Problem des Bösen in der Philosophie Józef Tischners presents Tischner’s phenomenology of evil. According to Tischner evil is not one of the many phenomena that surround us be-cause it is not a phenomenon at all but an appearance situated outside being and sense. In Tischner’s language the “agathological” experience of evil is an experience of what should not be. In this sense this experi-ence shows the problematical character of existence — by revealing the negative side of the surrounding world it also marks the limits of human-kind. To be human we must justify our own existence. The “agathologi-cal” experience is always a sort of rebellion experience, which starts the serious thinking responsible for the Other, before whom man tries to jus-tify himself. This is why for Tishner the face of the Other is a gift of the “agathological” horizon, a gift which provides ethical bearings. Agathol-ogy does not cancel or replace axiology. It marks not only the limits of humankind but it is also a rebellion against evil, a call to action ruled by an axiological order. As a dramatic boundary experience of what should not be agathology not only leads to axiological thinking according to values but it can also reveal the structural evil inherent in values. 188 Introduction to the Issue The whole system of acquired values may reveal itself as something that should not be. In this sense agathology performs a controlling function of axiology.The article by Antoni Szwed The Reception of Søren Kierkegaard’s Thought in Józef Tischner’s Philosophy concentrates on a few key experi-ences of both philosophers: the experience of beauty, despair and soli-tude. The first part gives us a knowledgeable and finely nuanced recon-struction of Kierkegaard’s philosophy and of Tischner’s ways of reading Kierkegaard’s texts. Tishner’s interpretations reveal hidden tragic dilem-mas, especially the threat of madness lurking in the experience of lone-liness. In Tishner’s thought the experience of loneliness together with the experience of despair becomes an autonomous subject of analysis. Tishner’s analysis is different from that of Kierkegaard because he inter-prets these experiences within the perspective of what he calls Polish melancholy.The article by Urszula Idziak Ricoeur and Derrida — the Heritage of Death presents the debate between Ricouer and Derrida concerning two different ways of understanding the boundary experience of death, called “survival” by Derrida and “life until death” by Ricoeur. Both authors agree that learning to live means learning to die. For Ricoeur, however, learning to die means learning to give up oneself and learning to trans-fer one’s own love of life onto someone close to us. This act of transfer shows the fidelity of the dying person towards those fundamentals which transcend human finitude. Derrida analyzes the problem of learn-ing to die from a completely different perspective. For him each dying person becomes close to us. We have not learnt to live and to die because in life and death we are visited by spectres — here Derrida recalls the ghost of the father who visited Hamlet, Kierkegaard and Kafka. These spectres not only prevent us to learn to live and to die, but also show a paradox peculiar for each individual, one impossible to be repeated, ex-pressed or transferred to someone else. Standing on the side of Hamlet, Kierkegaard and Kafka, Derrida claims that deconstruction teaches a fi-delity towards our spectres. It is a fidelity not towards ourselves (one’s own life and death) but towards the difference, towards everything im-possible to be expressed and it is at the same time precisely this differ-ence which constitutes our individuality. Two following articles are not connected with the leading theme of this issue. Magdalena Nowak in her The complicated History of “Einfüh-lung” presents not only a history of the concept of Einfuhlung but also its contemporary renaissance in human sciences in particular its uses in the Dominic Lacapra projects of historical research. Whereas Dale Jacquette  Introduction to the Issue 189in Enhancing the Diagramming Method in Informal Logic argues for appli-cation of the diagramming method of testing logical coherence to such cases as vicious circle, contradictions or reductio ad absurdum, as useful pedagogically in teaching basic logic a critical reasoning skills at all lev-els of scientific education.This issue contains also Ivo Frenzel and Willy Hochkeppel’s talk with Herbert Marcuse translated by Jacek Zelek, and five reviews by Seweryn Blandzi, Maciej Urbanek, Tomasz Borycki, Wojciech Hanuszkiewicz and Kinga Elert. Wojciech Hanuszkiewicz Volume Editor

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