Abstract
Prof. Maria Ossowska (1896-1974) consecrated her professional life to study and teach the science of morality described by Descartes (1596-1650) in the metaphor of a philosophical tree: physics is the trunk, metaphysics the roots, ethics one of the branches. This scientist received a classical education. She analyzed the ancient philosophical texts. In Antiquity the development of Socratic and Hellenistic idea systems go together with Judaic and Christian schools thought about the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. In relation to the old-Hebrew ethics concept, the author emphasized the significance of the transgression of the law: (Hbr.) ‘awon. Death, in Torah, is one of concequences of ‘awon. ‘awon translated as “sin” was the important subject in the patristic comments. This was the important subject in the patristic interpretations. In this context Church Fathers evoked the Gospell’s passage about the resurrection. The allegory of the tree as the way of transmission of knowledge and life was presented by Mary Cassatt (1844-1926). In the article Gela Seksztajn (1907-1943) is remembered also. Like M. Cassatt, G. Seksztajn consecrated a large part of her pictures to children. During the occupation of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union (1939-1945), Maria Ossowska, a teacher of philosophical science, participated in the system of underground education as part of the Department of Education and Culture in the Polish Secret State. She and her husband Stanislaw Ossowski dedicated their time to save the life of many Jews in Poland. They were one of the vital connections to the Council to Aid Jews Żegota.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call