The development of logic and the philosophy of science in Poland after the Second World War

Abstract

The history which we will present is still too close to reality to avoid a fragmentary and subjective treatment. The need for a contemporary, synthetic review is, however, so great that despite these risks, attempts at surveying the newest scientific works are made1. Keeping in mind the difficulties as well as the need, we offer our observations on the topics indicated by the title of this paper with great caution. First we will review the educational and organizational situation, then publications, and finally the main set of problems and achievements of logic and methodology in Poland. After the Second World War, Polish formal logic and methodology of science renewed its ties with the rich, pioneering tradition of the inter-war period. The representatives of the Lvov-Warsaw school played the main role here2. Many of them died tragically; a few managed to find not only shelter but even permanent residence abroad (for example: J. Lukasiewicz, A. Tarski, J. M. Bochenski, B. Soboci?ski, Cz. Lejewski, H. Mehlberg). Those who survived energetically set about the continuation of the splendid tradition of Polish logic and philosophy of science. Thanks to these people in great measure these sciences have developed to such a degree that some branches of these sciences must be considered as an important achievement on the world scene.