Bertranda Russella spotkania z filozofią polską (L. Chwistek, W. Lutosławski, S. Themerson)

Abstrakt

Bertrand Russell’s Acquaintance with Polish Philosophers (L. Chwistek, W. Lutosławski, S. Themerson)

The relations between Russell and three Polish philosophers are considered. Each of them exchanged letters with Russell but their professional interests in philosophy, their metaphilosophical views and their worldviews profoundly varied. Nevertheless, Russell’s wide intellectual horizon enabled him to have fruitful disscussions with each of them. Chwistek’s philosophical aim was to improve Russell’s theory of types but he failed to publish his own book in English with Russell’s preface and he never met Russell in person. The English philosopher, however, helped Chwistek in obtaining the post at Lvov University. Lutosławski was unable to develop the professional philosophical discussion with Russell, whom he met at a philosophical congress, but he expressed positive opinion on the chapters on Plato in Russell’s History of Western Philosophy. This opinion was helpful for Russell in his further cooperation with the publishing house. The last of the Poles under discussion was Themerson, rather a writer, artist and a thinker than a philosopher. He met Russell after the WW II in London, while they both lived there. Themerson edited some minor works of Russell, who wrote a preface to Themerson’s novel. Their letters provide evidence that they shared general attitude towards religion, philosophy and the outlook on the world.