Między ulotnością a afirmacją życia - J. M. Bocheńskiego problematyka mądrościowa

Abstract

In Fr. Bocheński’s writings the wisdom issue occupies a fundamental place. Bocheński touches on this theme many times and from different perspectives. The article is an attempt to depict, what – for this distinguished philosopher, logician, and also a Christian and a monk – is wisdom. It is an attempt to outline one very definite concept of wisdom. The author uses for this purpose the texts which, at first glance, may seem totally unrelated to each other, or even contradictory, namely Bocheński’s well-known ‘Textbook of the Wisdom of This World,’ as well as his sermons, homilies and retreat lectures. In the first part of the article, the author presents the concept of wisdom to be found in Bocheński’s ‘Textbook of the Wisdom of This World,’ where Bocheński distinguishes very precisely wisdom and morality, ethics and goodness – as he describes religious morality. The author of the article argues that what is the most important in the ‘Textbook…’ are not the short and succinct wisdom commandments, but the spirit of this little book, the source from which those commandments come from. It is the conviction that wisdom has two faces – it teaches of the vanity of the world, fragility of life, but at the same time it encourages to use it. In the second part, the author shows the concept of wisdom present in Fr. Bochenski’s sermons. It is the wisdom which we find in simplicity; the wisdom built on ordinary human experience; the wisdom which commands us to enjoy small, simple things; the wisdom which is intrinsically connected with thinking and contemplation, and, finally, the wisdom which leads our life to God and in God finds its fulfillment. In the summary the author recalls the essay ‘About the Sense of Life.’ Fr. Bocheński’s concept of wisdom is depicted even more clearly in the context of his contemplation of happiness, the purpose each human being aims for. Bocheński has no doubt that one has to remember the fragility of life and the goal we all aim for (also the ultimate goal), but we also need to skillfully use what is given to us – here and now – because wisdom ‘is found’ somewhere between the fleeting nature of life and its affirmation.