The reception of Dr Ludwik Jekels' "apostolic activity" to promote psychoanalysis in Poland before the outbreak of World War I. Part 2.

Krzysztof Rutkowski,Edyta Dembińska

doi:10.12740/pp/81669

Abstract

The paper sets out to present Doctor Ludwik Jekels' activity for the development of psychoanalysis in Poland between 1909 and 1914. The second part of the paper focuses mainly on the period of 1911-1912 when Ludwik Jekels was the most active in promoting psychoanalysis. The article also includes the discussion of Jekels' book publications including two translations of Sigmund Freud's works and the first Polish publication on psychoanalysis entitled Szkic psychoanalizy Freuda (An Outline of Freud's Psychoanalysis). The reactions of the scientific circles, particularly those associated with the Lviv School of Psychology, were also analyzed. The access to previously unpublished sources allowed the authors, for the first time, to report on Jekels' educational activity in Krakow and Lviv. The sources also gave insight to Jekels' completely unknown actions to promote psychoanalysis in Cieszyn Silesia. Jekels' lectures were followed by a wide range of reactions from the public with the medical community increasingly criticizing psychoanalysis. The pinnacle of Jekels' activity was the Second Congress of Polish Neurologists, Psychiatrists and Psychologists was organized in Krakow in 1912. It was the culmination in the discussion on the place of psychoanalysis in the Polish science. The paper presents the participants of the psychoanalytic session with a special focus on Dr Jekels' contribution, the way how psychoanalysis discussion was conducted and the effects of the congress on further development of psychoanalysis. In conclusion an attempt was made to assess the overall significance of Dr Jekels' activities in Poland.

Highlights

In the subsequent years of 1911-1912 Jekels made a lot of effort to promote the psychoanalytical idea in Poland and translate Sigmund Freud’s works into Polish
He independently put into practice the programme of psychoanalysis public promotion which he proposed in 1910 and which was rejected by his Viennese associates
Due to his activities related to psychoanalysis he stayed on a temporary basis in Krakow at the Kilińskiego Street 17 [1]

Summary

Introduction

In the subsequent years of 1911-1912 Jekels made a lot of effort to promote the psychoanalytical idea in Poland and translate Sigmund Freud’s works into Polish. In his presentation Jekels discussed the theory of psychoanalysis, “Freud’s theories of sexuality” and demonstrated on numerous examples that “the relation of a child towards parents is of sexual nature” [20, p.

Results

Conclusion