The authors present the conceptual and system-theoretical model of human motor behaviour. The main assumption is that movement is the only observable manifestation of all psychical processes, thus, it is the only phenomenon enabling the creation of hypotheses concerning the psychological conditioning of human behaviour. They pointed to the fact that in the field of biology, and all the more, in psychology, mathematical descriptions are hardly eligible. In this respect, a system-theoretical approach seems to be appropriate. The authors present two (...) systems: information processing modalities in the human mind, based on Nikolai Bernstein’s theory, and the series of processes from stimuli reception to motor response execution. Both these sub-systems make up a super-system. Its simplified graphical representation may be termed “Column Diagram.” The authors analyse the functioning of this super-system in various intellectual-motor purposeful operations. The system-theoretical perspective enables clear categorisation of various human motor operations, their “driving” mechanisms, internal patterns, and their superficial physical and/or mathematical “appearance.” The stream of consciousness in a human motor operation joins the various psychological constructs, which are reception, perception, attention, motivation, intellect, memory, etc., into one coherent, inseparable system. (shrink)

The human world is in a state in statu nascendi. Man is emocionaly suspended between history, past, memory and the future. His activity is always the result of the four pillars supporting his existence. He draws his energy from the social imaginarium of which he is a part. The foundations dynamic social space are religion and politics as well as the past and memory.

This article regards the field of neuroscience and indicates on the proper or erroneous functioning of the human brain. Intellectual virtues, especially practical wisdom play a significant role in capturing the truth and implementing it in life. The agile formation of the cognitive function of man encompasses both his reason as well as the sensual judgment of utility with all the bodily backup. The brain possesses great plasticity in the production of neuronal connections. Habit as a permanent wont utilizes the (...) reactions being developed to the construction of often inappropriate mechanisms, that in turn are not easy or completely impossible to eliminate. When practical reason is introduced into a false ethos, the brain responds by forming “ruts” of neuronal connections which seem difficult to consider as something appropriate. The reparation of the existing situation and the removal of the wrong habit require relevant virtues so as to unblock the psychological resistance that is deeply rooted within the physiological neuronal substrate. The learning about the virtues of St. Thomas Aquinas is the best warranty not only for theoretical explanations, but also for the practical application of virtues in dealing with the arised situation. Only well-formed virtues give the opportunity to correct the false instinctive cognition and liberate from erroneous actions. (shrink)

Anderson-like ontological proofs, studied in this paper, employ contingent identity, free principles of quantification of the 1st order variables and classical principles of quantification of the 2nd order variables. All these theories are strongly complete wrt. classes of modal structures containing families of world-varying objectual domains of the 1st order and constant conceptual domains of the 2nd order. In such structures, terms of the 1st order receive only rigid extensions, which are elements of the union of all 1st order domains. (...) Terms of the 2nd order receive extensions and intensions. Given a family of preselected world-varying objectual domains of the 2nd order, non-rigid extensions of the 2nd order terms belong always to a preselected domain connected with a given world. Rigid intensions of the 2nd order terms are chosen from among members of a conceptual domain of the 2nd order, which is the set of all functions from the set of worlds to the union of all 2nd order preselected domains such that values of these functions at a given world belong to a preselected domain connected with this world. (shrink)

Notwithstanding the opportunities it provides, the implementation of some measures of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (EU CAP), including agri-environment-climate measures (AECMs), also generates threats. The study identifies an extremely disturbing process that can be referred to as “internal neo-colonialism”, which has been driven by the technocratic agrarian policy of the EU and transformations in Poland at the turn of the twenty-first century. The associated disadvantageous practices mainly affect areas under threat of marginalisation and peripheralisation, including Poland with its post-Socialist (...) heritage, which has shaped the attitudes and behaviour of society and has consolidated linkages between politics and business. In order to retrace such activities, the study analyses EU funds granted in support of farmers implementing AECMs, with a focus on analysing the place of residence of the “farmer” and the location of the farm. As the research shows, the attractiveness of CAP support causes Polish agriculture and Poland’s countryside, including its natural and financial resources, to be drained by so-called “suitcase farmers”, i.e. people/entities not tied to the place where the agricultural activity is pursued, many of whom live in cities. One common practice is to take over land located in legally protected areas noted for their high quality of natural environment. Not only does the practice of land grabbing strengthen the social exclusion of rural communities and the peripheralisation and pauperisation of these areas, but it also hinders discussion about environmental justice and the ecological integrity of rural areas. (shrink)

Obóz Kultury 2.0 Mirosław Filiciak, Alek Tarkowski, Agata Jałosińska, Andrzej Klimczuk, Maciej Rynarzewski, Jacek Seweryn, Stunża M., D. Grzegorz, Marcin Wilkowski & Anna Orlik .

This collection of articles offers an in-depth ex-ploration of explanatory, non-normative political theory, moving beyond the simple mechanics of governance and power struggles. The chapters investigate the boundaries and forms of political phenomena, including the transformation of non-political matters into political issues. The analysis distinguishes between political actions driven by ideas and interests, efforts to harmo-nize conflicting forces for social stability, and the principles that underpin the political framework. Moreover, the book delves into the socio-technical mechanisms of enemy creation, polari-zation, (...) and dehumanization, as well as the con-tradictions of political pluralism, deliberation, and the emergence of antipolitics. (shrink)

Artykuł ma na celu ukazanie wpływu bogatej symboliki „dzikiego męża”, która została według autora opracowania świadomie użyta jako znaczący i jednocześnie uzupełniający element przekazu treści pochodzącej z pierwszej połowy XV wieku _Księgi praw miejskich Głubczyc_ (Codex Iuris Lubschicensis). Analizowany materiał źródłowy stanowi spisany w języku niemieckim zbiór praw miejskich, sporządzony m.in. na bazie łacińskich odpisów, który oprócz bogatych zdobień posiada liczne sceny figuralne. Ich autorem był Jan z Żytawy, iluminator czynny na Śląsku i we Wrocławiu, który ukończył swoją pracę w (...) końcu 1421 lub na początku 1422 roku. W artykule przedstawiono dotychczasową literaturę naukową dotyczącą manuskryptu, uważanego przez długi czas za zaginiony, oraz wykazano, że dotychczasowe opracowania pomijają warstwę symboliczno-znaczeniową przedstawień figuralnych, dostrzegając w nich niepowiązane z treścią rękopisu _drôlerie_. Dodatkowo wskazano na obszerny stan badań na temat „dzikiego męża” w kulturze europejskiej, który dotychczas był pomijany przez badaczy pochodzącego z Głubczyc źródła. W opinii autora opracowania Dzicy Mężowie są ważnym elementem wzmacniającym siłę przekazu całości zbioru praw miejskich i wpisują się w charakterystyczne dla epoki powstania rękopisu opozycje, takie jak: wieś – miasto, prawo stanowione – prawo zwyczajowe, chrześcijaństwo – pogaństwo. Przeprowadzone analizy porównawcze prowadzą do wniosku, że w kulturze europejskiej „dzikim mężom” niejednokrotnie przypadało w udziale kierowanie do ludzi nauk moralnych. Byli oni postrzegani jako uosobienie pierwotnego dobra zaklętego w naturze, a żyjąc z nią w harmonii, pozostali zwierciadłem moralnym dla tych wszystkich, którzy nie uznają jeszcze przepisów zawartych w regulacjach prawnych. „Dziki mąż” to zatem strażnik naturalnego prawa, lub też ducha prawa, co zapewne pragnął oddać Jan z Żytawy, iluminator jednego z najcenniejszych dokumentów przechowywanych obecnie w Archiwum Państwowym w Opolu – w aktach miasta Głubczyc (zespół nr 9, sygn. 122). (shrink)

This paper examines how the Polish communist intelligence service attempted to recruit professor Stefan Węgrzyn, who was a prominent specialist on automatic control and computer science in post-war Poland. Eventually, Węgrzyn’s refusal to cooperate with the Polish spy agency, together with his profound relationship with French scientist and servomechanism expert Jean Charles Gille, made them both targets of surveillance orchestrated by the communist security apparatus. In the broader context of human-intelligence studies, this case study involves the problem of moral ambiguity. (...) We experience informative examples of scientists, who often – not only during the Cold War – have had to choose between commitment to the rules of the academic world, along with its openness and transparency on the one hand, and patriotism including an ethos of secrecy for the sake of the homeland’s prosperity, on the other hand. (shrink)

In the course of his lectures given in Como in 1927 Niels Bohr introduces a very important concept of complementarity. Two years later he publishes his first view of biological questions, which he includes in one series of lectures devoted to quantum mechanics and complementarity. In one of his later articles in the same series, explaining why he started publishing his opinions on biology, he states that this may help understand his interpretation of physics, and especially the category of complementarity. (...) He can see a possibility of using the category of complementarity also outside physics. He hopes that epistemological implications of his category of complementarity can broaden the spectrum of recipients when they will refer to well-known problems, especially in the sphere of biology. Bohr directs his attention to biology hoping to shed new light on the old problem concerning the understanding of the concept of life. He has no doubts that the \'epistemological lesson\' of quantum mechanics, by drawing attention to the observation conditions in biology, may be helpful in overcoming the controversy between \"vitalism\" and \"mechanicism\". He rejects the vitalistic doctrine with its \"vital force\" or \"entelechy\", as devoid of scientific valor. He also formulates arguments against \"mechanicism\". Bohr developed his biological interests directed to philosophy to the end of his life. His last work was devoted to exactly biological questions. Unfortunately, sudden death stopped him from completing it. Because of the fact that in some places Bohr presented his views on biology in an obscure way, some biologists included him in the circle of supporters of vitalism. A more profound analysis of his views proves that this opinion is groundless. (shrink)

The book presents a collection of articles authored by several members of the Warsaw School of Political Theory, affiliated with the University of Warsaw. The team of scholars, first founded in the 1970s by professor Artur Bodnar, has been conducting research under the leadership of professor Miroslaw Karwat.

Few phenomena in world history have such a vivid imagery in popular culture as piracy. Law is a major element of those images, whether looking through its lens one considers pirates as lawless or, conversely, as free of the shackles of society. This article proposes to investigate the relationship between the two, choosing three eponymous images as the focus of its investigations. Beginning with the study of the ways in which images of piracy were created in popular culture, the author (...) then turns his attention to the question of the ways in which law has framed pirates throughout the ages. Thus, he looks into each of the three pre-selected images: of pirates as symbols of liberty (focusing on the question of pirate’s social organisation and pirate utopias), of pirates as outlaws (focusing on the question of how international law has treated pirates throughout history to the present day) and of pirates as treasure hunters (focusing on the question of legal rights to sunken treasures). In the final part of the article the author ponders the endurance of images of piracy, asking the question as to what this phenomenon reveals about law in particular and society in general. (shrink)