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Stefan Pawlicki

A Luminary of Polish Thought and Faith

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Life and Education

Early Life and Education

Stefan Zachariasz Pawlicki was born on September 2, 1839, in Danzig (now Gdańsk), Poland. His early education began in his hometown. Following his family's relocation to Greater Poland, he continued his studies in Pleschen (Pleszew). Tragically, at the age of thirteen, he lost both parents during an epidemic. He was able to complete his progimnazjum thanks to the support of a local parish priest, Father Basiński. From 1853 to 1858, he attended the liceum in Ostrów Wielkopolski, where he excelled academically, partly due to a scholarship provided by Jan Kanty Działyński of Kórnik.

University Studies and Early Career

Between 1858 and 1862, Pawlicki pursued studies in classical philology at Breslau University (now Wrocław University). During his time in Breslau, he actively participated in academic life, serving as secretary and president of the Slavic-Literary Society. He departed Breslau in 1862 without obtaining a degree. Subsequently, from 1862 to 1864, he worked as a tutor in Rogalin for Edward Aleksander Raczyński. His academic pursuits resumed in 1864 at Breslau University, where he studied in the Philosophy Department, attending lectures on psychology and logic. In 1865, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis, De Schopenhaueri doctrina et philosophandi ratione, which was a pioneering study of Arthur Schopenhauer's philosophy.

Academic and Literary Engagements

In 1866, Pawlicki's study on The Eleatic School earned him an assistant professorship (docentura) at Warsaw's Main School. He lectured there until 1868 in the Philological-Historical Department, focusing on the history of philosophy. He also delivered public lectures in Warsaw for the intelligentsia. In 1868, he took on an editorial role at Biblioteka Warszawska, where he published theatrical and literary reviews.

Spiritual Transformation and Theological Pursuits

A Profound Spiritual Shift

While in Warsaw, Pawlicki experienced a significant spiritual transformation, influenced by Father Piotr Semenenko, the founder and superior general of the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This profound change led him to Rome in 1868, where he entered the Resurrectionist novitiate. He took holy orders in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in 1872.

Theological Studies and Academic Recognition

In 1869, Pawlicki commenced his studies in Christian philosophy and theology at the Jesuit Collegium Romanum. He earned a doctorate in theology in 1873 with his thesis, The Secret of the Holy Trinity. In the same year, he was appointed Vice Rector of the Polish College in Rome. His academic prowess was recognized by Pope Pius IX, who called him to lecture at the Accademia di Religione Cattolica. In 1882, Pawlicki secured a professorship in the Theology Department at Kraków's Jagiellonian University. Pope Leo XIII famously heralded his arrival with the Latin phrase: "Magnum lumen vobis mitto" ("I send you a great light").

In a consistory held on November 10, 1884, Pope Leo XIII expressed a desire to elevate Father Pawlicki to the rank of Cardinal. However, Pawlicki respectfully declined this significant honor, choosing to continue his academic and spiritual work.

Philosophical Contributions

Historical and Critical Analysis

Pawlicki's academic career was deeply rooted in the history of philosophy. His early work included a study on The Eleatic School, which secured him an assistant professorship. He lectured extensively on the history of philosophy and engaged with contemporary intellectual currents. His published works covered a range of philosophical topics and thinkers, including studies on Positivism, Materialism, Darwinism, and analyses of prominent figures like Victor Cousin, Ernest Renan, and Alfred Fouillée.

  • Historia filozofii greckiej od Talesa do śmierci Arystotelesa (A History of Greek Philosophy from Thales to the Death of Aristotle), vol. I, 1890; vol. II, 1903, incomplete
  • Wiktor Cousin, 1867
  • Pozytywizm (Studies of Positivism), 1886
  • Materializm (Materialism and Science), 1870
  • Darwinizm, 1876
  • Mózg i dusza (Brain and Soul), 1874
  • Kilka uwag o podstawach i granicach filozofii (Some Remarks on the Foundations and Limits of Philosophy), 1878
  • Lassalle i przyszłość socjalizmu (Lassalle and the Future of Socialism)

Academic Standing and Influence

Pawlicki was elected a correspondent of the Historical-Philosophical Department of the Academy of Learning in 1884 and became an active member in 1891. He received a second chair in the Philosophical Department at Jagiellonian University in 1894. He served as dean of the Theology Department in 1888–89 and 1892–93, and notably, as the University's rector for the academic year 1905–06. In 1910, he retired but continued to lecture at the University without remuneration. From 1911, he led a Commission on the History of Polish Philosophy and was an active member of various philosophical societies in Poland and abroad.

Enduring Legacy

Intellectual and Material Contributions

Stefan Pawlicki bequeathed his extensive book collection to the Jagiellonian University Library, enriching its resources for future scholars. In recognition of his contributions, a street in Kraków was named in his honor.

Critical Assessment

The historian of philosophy, Władysław Tatarkiewicz, offered a nuanced perspective on Pawlicki's career. Tatarkiewicz described Pawlicki as a man of broad culture and philosophical inclination, yet noted a perceived lack of exceptional talent in his writing and teaching. Under Pawlicki's long tenure, Kraków's philosophical discourse, according to Tatarkiewicz, became predominantly historical, somewhat detached from contemporary developments in Western Europe and even within Poland.

Selected Works

Scholarly Publications

Pawlicki authored numerous works contributing to the fields of philosophy, history of philosophy, and theology. His publications reflect a deep engagement with classical thought, contemporary philosophical movements, and theological doctrines.

  • Historia filozofii greckiej od Talesa do śmierci Arystotelesa (A History of Greek Philosophy from Thales to the Death of Aristotle), vol. I, 1890; vol. II, 1903, incomplete
  • Wiktor Cousin, 1867
  • O początkach chrześcijaństwa (On the Origins of Christianity), 1884
  • Pozytywizm (Studies of Positivism), 1886
  • Renan, 1896
  • Filozofia Fouillého (The Philosophy of Fouillée), 1899
  • Materializm (Materialism and Science), 1870
  • Darwinizm, 1876
  • Mózg i dusza (Brain and Soul), 1874
  • Kilka uwag o podstawach i granicach filozofii (Some Remarks on the Foundations and Limits of Philosophy), 1878
  • Lassalle i przyszłość socjalizmu (Lassalle and the Future of Socialism)
  • Żywot i dzieła Ernesta Renana (The Life and Works of Ernest Renan)

References

Source Citations

  1. Information from the Polish Wikipedia "Stefan Pawlicki" article, 30 June 2009, 00:34, edition.
  2. Information on Pawlicki's nomination to be a cardinal, along with a brief biography: The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church.
  3. Tatarkiewicz, Historia filozofii, vol. 3, p. 175.
  4. "Stefan Pawlicki," Wielka Ilustrowana Encyklopedia Powszechna, volume XII, Kraków, 1932; reprint, Kraków, 1995.
  5. Jarosław Biernaczyk, "Stefan Pawlicki," Alma Mater Ostroviensis - Księga Pamięci - Non Omnis Moriar, volume X, Ostrów Wielkopolski, 2003.
  6. Władysław Tatarkiewicz, Historia filozofii (History of Philosophy), 3 vols., Warsaw, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1978.

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References

References

  1.  Information on Pawlicki's nomination to be a cardinal, along with a brief biography: The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
  2.  Tatarkiewicz, Historia filozofii, vol. 3, p. 175.
A full list of references for this article are available at the Stefan Pawlicki Wikipedia page

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