Abstract

This article examines one of the themes in Cezary Wodziński’s philosophy, namely the way in which he practises hermeneutics. The starting point is Józef Tischner’s review of Wodziński’s book Światłocienie zła [The Chiaroscuro of Evil]. Entitled Odwrót myślenia [The Retreat of Thinking], the review indicates that Wodziński deals only with words, losing the relationship with the phenomenon to which these words should relate. Focusing primarily on Wodziński’s book Kairos, I show that this is a strategy that really pushes Wodziński beyond the boundaries of hermeneutics. Celan’s formula ‘Das Gedicht ja spricht!’ is instructive here. It is akin to Heidegger’s formula ‘Die Sprache spricht’. In the light of my analysis, I suggest that Wodziński’s trouble with hermeneutics should be understood as his attempt to think of a place for the essence of language in the language. This place might be found in speaking the language, i.e. the act of speaking.