Leszek Ko?akowski

Leszek Ko?akowski (born 23 October, 1927 in Radom, Poland) is a the most notable living Polish philosopher.

Views

Kolakowski should not be seen in a purely Polish context. His work constitutes a savage critique of Marxism and a warning to "liberal democracies" of the danger of "relativism". "We should say no to those movements that would exploit freedom, only to abolish it". He sees some elements of Marxism in the current authoritarian tendencies of the European Union.

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Kolakowski is also sharply critical of the overweening claims of "positivism", cautioning that man is a spiritual being, and that a purely materialist view of life is unfulfilling to most. But, at the same time, he cautions against some of the claims of the "new age" and "deconstructionist" beliefs, attacking as they do the institutions and beliefs necessary for freedom to continue.

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The experience of the brutal rule of Nazis and Communists in a country that had a long struggle for freedom in the 19th and early 20th centuries, followed by a brief period of independence, gives contemporary Polish intellectuals a grounding in reality lacking in the pampered offspring of middle class western "baby boomers'.

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In his work, Kolakowski supports no particular religion, but is a champion of freedom. He is, however, intolerant towards fascism, marxism and deconstructionism. As Chesterton said:

Related Topics:
Fascism - Marxism - Deconstructionism

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There is a thought that stops thought and that is the only thought that ought to be stopped.

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