Jaźń wyzwolona. Wincenty Lutosławski o Widzeniu Adama Mickiewicza

Abstract

This paper attempts to explain the extent to which the creative work of Adam Mickiewicz was a source of inspiration for Wincenty Lutosławski and the degree to which it was the subject of interpretations in the light of his own philosophical opinions. The examples used are Lutosławski’s thoughts on Mickiewicz’s poem Widzenie [The Vision], which was unpublished during the poet’s lifetime. One particular work by Lutosławski was written in 1937 and is indisputably his own work. An earlier piece, from 1907, is anonymous but as it was published in the “Eleusis” magazine that was co-authored by Lutosławski, it is highly likely that the philosopher was also responsible for it. The paper discusses both those works separately. The interpretations contained in them are similar and the analysis of them indicates that they represent the approach to the Mickiewicz’s work from the perspective of the philosophy developed by Lutosławski. It is possible they are part of a search for confirmation or authentication of his beliefs. Firstly, both interpretations use the notion of “the soul” as the “liberated ego”. The nature of the ego (functions of the soul) consists of: thinking, feeling and will. Freedom, independence from the body as well as the existence of continual development of the creative power lead to the conclusion that the ego is characterised by immortality. Moreover, Lutosławski highlights the link between arts and nationalist-social tasks. For that purpose, he uses the romantic concept of irrational experience. The interpretations of Widzenie, in particular that of 1937, show that the value of arts is determined by the ability to stimulate social activity. The poetry reveals the links uniting individuals into the nation and, when it is based on the honest experience, its stimulating and unifying power is greater than that of historical knowledge. Both interpretations of Widzenie prove that their author (authors) felt some affinity with the poet with regards to their ideas. However, it is hard to consider those interpretations objective. Widzenie served Lutosławski’s purpose of illustrating his own science and he explains it by applying the categories he introduced.