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Vol. 56 (1981): Our Past

Articles

Konstanty Michalski's idea of a human-creator

  • Jan Telus
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.1981.56.93-102  [Google Scholar]
Published: 1981-12-30

Abstract

Frather Konstanty Michalski devoted most of his philosophical research to medieval philosophy. His works are appreciated both in the scientific community and among clergy. He was a professor of Christian philosophy at the Jagiellonian University and an active organizer of Catholic culture. Fr. Michalski presented the idea of man as a creative, dynamic being capable of influencing culture at various levels. He paid attention to the problems of modern man, the philosophy and theology of history, the importance of Christian holidays and the lives of creative people. His works showed the idea of a man who had creative abilities and could achieve a heroic attitude. In the context of the intellectual climate of the time, dominated by anthropocentrism, Fr. Michalski analyzed the influence of various humanisms, such as Nietzsche and Marxism. In his anthropology, based on Thomistic thought and supplemented with data from empirical psychology, man was perceived as a "unitas multiplex", an individual with various forces and functions, with internal dynamism and the ability to engage in creative activity. Fr. Michalski emphasized three ontic aspects of man's creative abilities: psychophysical unity and its dynamism, the dynamism of God's image and the supernatural reality of grace. These three elements, coming from the Creator, made man capable of creative activity on various levels. In the context of human history, Fr. Michalski emphasized that man is the creator of history, guaranteeing the continuation and realization of the immanent meaning of human life and the meaning of God. Human activity in history was supposed to contribute to improving the world, creating culture, and being a collaborator with God. Man's creative abilities, resulting from both nature and grace, were to be used to achieve superhuman perfection and union with God. Fr. Michalski argued that man, being the image of God, has something divine in him that makes him capable of being God's collaborator. Human creativity, both on the intellectual, artistic and social levels, was to serve the implementation of the Divine idea of man and humanity. Fr. Michalski emphasized that man is the most powerful tool of God's Providence on earth, and culture and human progress make sense as the implementation of God's idea of man.

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