Are you sure the bankruptcy of the intellectuals?

Abstract

Aleksander Nalaskowski's book The Bankruptcy of the Polish intellectuals [Bankructwo polskiej inteligencji] is an important position for a broader reflection not only on the condition of a certain social group, but more broadly - on contemporary culture, not only Polish culture. It seems, however, that the title problem of Nalaskowski's study touches upon a more general issue, which is the present situation of Polish and world (well, maybe only European) culture in general. Whatever we may think about ourselves and how we judge it, we are stuck in a process that affects culture - especially since 1945. As I have tried to sketch the broader background, the sources of this bankruptcy are deeper and not only the fault of the intellectuals itself. Perhaps there is some truth in what the already mentioned Gałczyński wrote (Gałczyński 1956, 189 [Notes from unsuccessful Paris retreats - Notatki z nieudanych rekolekcji paryskich], 1946): And when Your storm passes will you accept a coward into your paradises? Oh sweet night, summer night ... Outside the window, a Galilean flute. Probably many intellectuals would repeat these words after the poet; because there is too much wind for my wool (za duży wiatr na moją wełnę)... This also needs to be taken into account, the failure to settle accounts that affected us after 1939-1945. Here I see the sources of this bankruptcy (if it was bankruptcy), when our parents, relatives, found out that they deviated from the guideline…. Hence the lack of an answer to the question posed in the Little Violin Concerto from Niobe's poem - where is it? Originally the poet wrote - I know, I know. But this memory - did anyone need it? So, in my opinion, it was not the intellectuals that went bankrupt; these were those who decided that she deviated from the guideline (odbiegli od linii wytycznej)... they kind of ordered her to go bankrupt, to give up everything they had managed to save despite the years 1939-1945. And they tried to keep it, hide it, pass it on to others. That it didn't fully work out? Well - let me repeat - nec Hercules contra plures (which I cannot translate in the language of Mr. Piecyk or Walery Wątróbka).