Photo: http://www.jozeftischner.pl/
Michał KŁOSOWSKI: Tischner for today. The ethics of encounter in the age of cynicism
Twenty-five years after the death of Fr. Józef Tischner, the Polish public sphere still struggles to come to terms with him. It has neither fully accepted nor outright rejected him; perhaps it has even forgotten him. For his presence resembles a silent conscience – unsettling, demanding, profound.
Fr. Józef Tischner, a philosopher of hope and the complexities of choice, passed away at the dawn of what we now recognize as the 'post-truth era’. Were he alive today, his words would undoubtedly resonate with a certain rawness, yet they would remain as essential as ever. Sometimes, a firm fist on the table is needed. For what is Tischner’s ethics if not a radical plea for humanity in its most authentic form?
Ethics for life, not to show
In an age marked by rising populism, vague notions of responsibility, and mechanisms of alienation – both within politics and the Church – Fr. Józef Tischner’s philosophy of encounter and drama emerges as the intellectual compass we urgently require. He firmly rejected ethical oversimplifications, moralistic coercion, and purely ideological confines. Tischner asserted that a person is not merely a collection of commands and prohibitions; rather, each individual must confront the profound drama of freedom and the responsibility they hold towards the Other. This Other is not an abstract concept but a tangible human being.
In his work, ‘Dispute over the Existence of Man,’ Tischner argued that a person who ceases to question the meaning of existence is no longer truly human. Today, many of us have fallen silent on these vital inquiries. Amidst the clamour of social media, the oversimplifications of news narratives, and the influences of algorithm-driven journalism, meaning has been relegated from a central concern to a mere commodity. Tischner emphasized that meaning – not truth as an ideological weapon, should occupy the heart of ethical contemplation. This ethical reflection, distinct from ideology, politics, or emotional responses, was his formidable message. Thus, now more than ever, we need Tischner – not as a relic of intellectual Catholicism or a mere citation from colourful philosophical essays, but as a living source of inspiration for spiritual resilience.
Photo: http://www.jozeftischner.pl/
Drama is not a mistake, drama is life
A compelling aspect of Fr. Józef Tischner’s thought is his rejection of binary simplifications. He had little faith in black-and-white dichotomies, teaching that life transcends mere party platforms or checklists of commandments. Life is, fundamentally, a drama – an interplay of freedom with freedom, of ‘I’ with ‘you,’ of conscience with conscience. In this regard, Tischner was a philosophical heir to personalism, infused with deep existential tension. His close connection to Karol Wojtyła, later known as John Paul II, was not coincidental; both recognized that ethics must emerge from lived experience, not abstract theories.
Fr. Józef Tischner embraced the tension between tradition and modernity, never seeking simple solutions to complex dilemmas. This quality renders his insights particularly relevant today. As a society, we are weary of shouting, irony, and cynicism. His language imbued with hope, drama, and conscience – provides an alternative path forward.
One significant misunderstanding about Tischner is the tendency to co-opt him into one side of a cultural divide. He was neither a 'Catholic liberal’ nor a 'conservative with a human face’; rather, he was a reflective pastor, dedicated to listening and understanding. In Poland, and beyond, the Church often speaks more than it listens, imposing rather than proposing. Tischner charted a different course. For him, dialogue was not merely a tactic but a profound expression of respect for the mystery of every individual encountered along life’s journey. He dared to communicate in a manner that transcended ecclesiastical formulas, earning him discomfort from some. Yet, isn’t that what we truly need today? This is not solely about the Church; it is about the human being that Tischner sought to understand, not just within the confines of books, but right outside his door.
Tischner revisited: 25 years later
As a member of the younger generation who knows Fr. Józef Tischner more as a literary figure than a living person, I believe his philosophy can serve as more than just an academic topic; it can inspire our generation, which, like Tischner, feels that ‘the old world is ending, and the new one has yet to arrive.’
Fr. Józef Tischner did not provide ready-made solutions; instead, he offered us a language through which we could discuss our world—honest, nuanced, and filled with hope. Let’s not allow Tischner to become merely a monument; rather, let him be a guide for us. Embracing ethical thought – cantered on the ethics of encounter, drama, and conscience – might well be our only salvation from today’s ethical decline. Therefore, a quarter of a century later, we should not merely remember Fr. Józef Tischner; we should engage in dialogue with him, treating him as a friend who doesn’t dictate our thoughts, but rather inspires us on how to think, and perhaps most importantly, why?
Michał KŁOSOWSKI
Source: DlaPolonii.pl
