Two concepts of freedom in Polish: the example of Edward Abramowski

Abstract

This article examines how two Polish words for freedom — wolność and swoboda — can lead to two separate philosophical concepts and how these concepts differ. Following the Introdcution, a particular theoretical background is described: Barbara Cassin’s project of philosophical “untranslatables” (Vocabulaire européen des philosophies. Dictionnaire des intraduisibles) — as well as its philosophical context, including Jacques Derrida’s views on language and translation and Roberto Esposito’s views on community. After that, linguistic differences between wolność and swoboda now and at the turn of the 20th century are presented based on dictionaries and other examples of usage. The two words-concepts are then analyzed in selected philosophical writings of Edward Abramowski: Co to jest sztuka? [What is art?] in the case of swoboda; and Zmowa powszechna przeciw rządowi [A general conspiracy against the government] for his understanding of wolność. The works Zagadnienia socjalizmu [Issues of socialism] and Etyka a rewolucja [Ethics and revolution] serve as a more general background for our analysis. Finally, some conclusions are drawn on the concept of swoboda and its broader philosophical interest.