Wolność od autorytetu jako zabobon. Teleologia wychowania w zakresie autorytetu w świetle analiz Józefa Marii Bocheńskiego

Abstract

In contemporary discussion the theme of authority is the subject of much controversy. Supporters of authority indicate its importance in the social life and in processes of education. Opponents of authority argue that it is oppressive and causes restraint of freedom. Analyzing opposite standpoints it is easy to come to the conclusion that the word „authority” is used in many diff erent contexts, it is unintelligible and it is associated with strong feelings. Moreover, these misunderstandings cause a lot of problems in pedagogy and in education. In the article the author tries to explain what the authority in the process of education is, referring to the thought of Józef Maria Bocheński, the very famous Polish philosopher and logician. In the light of his analysis the authority is a universal relation and the freedom from authority is a superstition. People who declare lack of believing in the authority are not conscious of their own functioning within the authoritarian relations. Th e conception of Bochenski leads to the conclusion that it is necessary in education to teach young people to be aware of who infl uence them and to teach them in whom and why they can confide.