The Faces of Mr. Cogito

Abstract

Zbigniew Herbert had already published four books of poetry when towards end of 1960s he began experiment with lyrical named Cogito. While in his earlier poetry he often employed both direct and dramatic monologues (the latter becoming a characteristic Herbertian form of expression manifested in poems such as Tren Fortynbrasa [The Lament of Fortinbras] and Powrot prokonsula [The Return of Proconsul]), he now decided shift his attention from history and cultural history philosophy. This did not mean taking up task of writing poetry; in an interview given Zbigniew Taranienko in 1971 Herbert stressed that such a thing did not and could not exist.What he was after was philosophical experience, that emotional tension which fills artist when he is close solving a specific problem.1 In other words one can provide an artistic response (in case of poet with help of images and metaphors) a problem which in some ways can be defined as philosophical. This could be transience of time, impossibility of stepping out of one's own skin, or limitation of human will. So (because with passage of time it became clear that Herbert grew fond of his persona and would write more in this vein) simply denotes a more, though not exclusively philosophy-oriented approach poetry in Herbert's work. Before looking at increasing diversity within cycle (forty-odd poems included in collections Pan (Mr. Cogito), Raport z oblczonego miasta (Report from Besieged City) and (Elegia na ode] scie (An Elegy for Departure), it may be instructive consider origins and implications of title. Why Mr. Cogito? Rene Descartes in his Principles of Philosophy (1644) stated that the proposition / (cogito) therefore I am is first and most certain of those we come across when we philosophise in an orderly way.2 Note that word cogito, often translated as merely to think is rendered here as to experience a translation probably closer intention of philosopher than form in which it is generally quoted. If so, Mr. Cogito would stand not simply for a Thinking Person, but for a human intellect who meditates on his experiences. Clearly, these experiences will not be pure, but will relate person's mind and body,