The Lvov-Warsaw School on the University and Its Tasks

Abstract

The article presents the ideas and pronouncements of the key representatives of the Lvov-Warsaw School on the role and assignments of the university and the ethical duties of the scholar. Discussion on these topics is preceded by recalling the selected ideas concerning the role and mission of the university shared by outstanding polish scholars (XV–XX century). This topic was of outstanding importance for Kazimierz Twardowski, the founder of the Lvov-Warsaw School. This conviction was shared by his followers, namely Tadeusz Czeżowski, Tadeusz Kotarbiński, Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz, Witwicki, Maria Ossowska, and others. It is admissible to mention a common conviction on scholar’s ethos, values, virtues and advantages, and the traits of the scientist’s personality, which were shared by the representatives of the School. In this study, we will recall the ideas and analyses of Kazimierz Twardowski and Tadeusz Czeżowski on the aforementioned topics, since they are highly representative for the entire Lvov-Warsaw School. All its representatives are concordant on the conviction shared by both scholars that the university is committed to (a) the service to the ideal of truth, (b) combining harmoniously the research, educational, and teaching functions, (c) builds creative individuals, marked with the intellectual, aesthetic, and moral dispositions unified, (d) fulfills its culture-forming function, (e) reshapes its near as well as its distant surroundings by applying the results of its research activity. Czeżowski, Twardowski and all representatives of the Lvov-Warsaw School firmly stand for the university’s independence, freedom of scientific research and their independence of governments and politics. The common catalogue of duties directed on the upbringing and education of the university students was also the hallmark of the School. We emphasise that the university as proposed by the Lvov-Warsaw school differs strongly from the contemporary proposals for the university, designed as an enterprise with teaching and research services, defined by current demand. These are two importantly different institutions, with different structure, functions, goals and subjected to different standards.