Zbiór artykułów opublikowanych w "Divus Thomas" i "Collectanea Theologica".

The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Dispositional Flow Scale-2 and Flow State Scale-2, for use with Polish adults and young adults. Currently, there are no tools that would allow us to study flow among Polish speakers. At the same time, due to the great interest in flow and its potential importance for effectiveness, cooperation, and learning, it is worth ensuring that reliable validated measurement questionnaires are available for people studying (...) the Polish population. Study participants completed 856 questionnaires, of which 496 individuals participated in the DFS-2 study and 360 individuals participated in the FSS-2 study. The maximum likelihood estimator was selected for the CFA analysis. Model fit was assessed using: χ2, comparative fit index, Tucker-Lewis index, and standardized root mean square of residuals, and root mean square of approximation error. For both questionnaires, formative first-level models with nine factors and second-level models with nine factors loaded on a higher-order flow factor were compared using the Satorra-Bentler Scaled difference χ2 test. The ω coefficient was used to estimate the reliability of the FFS-2 and DFS-2 models tested in the CFA method. Confirmatory factor analysis of both DFS-2 structural models showed satisfactory model fit. Most of the fit indices for the hierarchical 2nd order FSS-2 model presented satisfactory values, except for SRMR. Both DFS-2 and FSS-2 factors tested in the analysis showed good reliability. Our findings confirmed the reliability and validity of the Polish versions of DFS-2 and FSS-2 scales. The scales are reliable when applied to Polish adults and young adults. (shrink)

NATURALIZATION OF THE ABSOLUTE. The application of evolution’s explanatory mechanism to the study of religion The question which has troubled scholars for many decades (or even centuries) is the origin and function of religion. In this article, the author tries to sketch an outline of a new and promising paradigm in the study of religion, i.e. the evolutionary theories of religion. It is widely held belief that this enterprise should further provide an explanatory framework for an enormous amount of data (...) about human religiosity. Such an aim requires giving an overview of the three fundamental Darwinian theories which pertain to this extremely multifaceted phenomenon. The sequence in the overview is like this: (a) a historical and conceptual background, (b) a sociobiological account, (c) a cognitive account, (d) a memetic account. The paper also comprises a short presentation of so-called co-evolutionary perspective, which integrates the above-mentioned outlooks, and some shortcomings of the whole evolutionary program of the study of religion. (shrink)

Conscious Communication, or Corporate Social Responsibility Communication, which is the communication about corporate engagement and activities, has received growing attention. This study analyzes...

This paper presents a new puzzle for limited aggregation. Unlike other recent puzzles, this one arises independently of the issue of rational aversion to risk. Some possible responses are laid out and explored.

Ex-ante deontology is an attempt to combine deontological constraints on doing or intending harm with the idea that one should act in everyone’s interest if possible. I argue that ex-ante deontology has serious problems in cases where multiple decisions are to be made over time. I then argue that these problems force us to choose between commonsense deontological morality and a more consequentialist morality. I suggest that we should choose the latter.

Sport plays today an eminent role in man's life and in societies. Various sciences have made it the subject-matter of their reflection, i.e. psychology, sociology, the natural and humanistic sciences, art, philosophy, and theology. The present work seeks to answer some fundamental questions connected with the phenomenon of sport: what is it for man? whether and when does it serve the social integration of a community? what are the premises and principles of the ethics of sportive activity? what is the (...) aesthetic dimension of sport? what are the relations between sport and religious faith? The philosophical profile is dominant in the book, taking into consideration various aspects of sport: anthropological, social, axiological, and theological. (shrink)

This paper examines a recent argument in favour of strong precautionary action—possibly including working to hasten human extinction—on the basis of a decision-theoretic view that accommodates the risk-attitudes of all affected while giving more weight to the more risk-averse attitudes. First, we dispute the need to take into account other people’s attitudes towards risk at all. Second we argue that a version of the non-identity problem undermines the case for doing so in the context of future people. Lastly, we suggest (...) that we should not work to hasten human extinction, even if significant risk aversion is warranted. (shrink)

This article addresses the issue of linguistic phenomena which, as a legacy of the centuries-old tradition of the Roman Empire, are rooted in Polish jurisdictional texts. The study focused on foreign-language expressions and short texts in Latin, used in judicial decisions. The aim of the study was to determine the function of Latinisms as foreign-language expressions in judicial decisions and how their use influences the communicativeness and persuasiveness of argumentation. During the analysis, it was noticed that Latinisms in jurisdictional texts (...) are used on four levels, including: legal maxims, terminology equivalence, linguistic ornaments and the description of taboo phenomena. On the basis of the identified categories, efforts were made to determine the extent to which Latin strengthens or weakens the power of persuasion of judicial decisions. (shrink)

Personites are like continuant people but shorter-lived. Johnston argues that personites do not exist since otherwise personites would have the same moral status as persons, which is untenable. I argue that Johnston’s arguments fail. To do that I propose an alternative way to understand intrinsicness and I clarify the meaning of reductionism about persons. I also argue that a plausible ethical theory is possible even if personites have the same moral status as persons. My arguments draw on Johnston’s earlier debate (...) with Parfit about personal identity and the place of ordinary concerns in a naturalistic world. I also describe an important but metaphysics-free problem that arises from Johnston’s discussion. (shrink)

This paper develops transfinite extensions of transitivity and acyclicity in the context of population ethics. They are used to argue that it is better to add good lives, worse to add bad lives, and equally good to add neutral lives, where a life's value is understood as personal value. These conclusions rule out a number of theories of population ethics, feed into an argument for the repugnant conclusion, and allow us to reduce different-number comparisons to same-number ones. Challenges to these (...) arguments are addressed, including the issue of comparing existence and non-existence in terms of personal value, the possibility of minimal quanta of time and life, and the meaningfulness of measuring closeness between outcomes with different population sizes. An asymmetry is uncovered between transfinite cycles of worseness and betterness, supporting a version of the weak procreative asymmetry. Transfinite transitivity principles are also favourably compared to the better-known principles of continuity. (shrink)

Memetics is a research approach which applies evolutionary ideas and terminology to cultural phenomena. The core idea of memetics is the existence of the units of cultural evolution which are attributed autonomous replicating goals. Of course, such a controversial concept has gained many devoted adherents as well as its determined opponents. The paper discusses the theoretical difficulties of memetics. The first part discusses the analogy of genes and memes. The theme of the second part is the ontology of a cultural (...) replicator. Finally, the third part presents the main issues related to manners of transmission and the adaptation of memes. In short, the aim of the paper is an evaluation of the explanatory potential of memetics. The explanatory potential of memetics will be evaluated in terms of its intrinsic consistency, the degree of its confirmation, the falsifiability of the theses which were elaborated on its basis and the heuristic value of this approach. (shrink)

Badania dotyczące pojawiania się myśli oderwanych od zadania wykonywanego przez podmiot pokazują, że takich myśli jest tym mniej, im większe wymagania stawia ono systemowi poznawczemu, jeśli chodzi o zaangażowanie procesów zarządczych, złożoność, trudność bądź częstość wykonywanych operacji. Jednym z możliwych wyjaśnień tych zależności jest hipoteza biernej regulacji zasobowej: aktywność umysłowa oderwana od zadania rozwija się w takim zakresie, w jakim procesy realizujące zadanie pozostawiają wolne zasoby niezbędne do jej rozwoju. Analizy przedstawione w artykule motywowane są pytaniem o teoretyczną konkretyzację tej (...) idei. Jaka jest natura zasobowych ograniczeń, które mają uniemożliwiać równoczesne rozwijanie się aktywności umysłowej dotyczącej zadania i oderwanej od niego? Na jakim etapie rozwoju aktywności umysłowej prowadzącej do pojawienia się myśli oderwanej od zadania występuje w związku z tymi ograniczeniami zasobowa blokada? Pod tym kątem rozważane są cztery współczesne znaczące ujęcia „roboczej” części umysłu: modele pamięci roboczej Baddeleya i Cowana oraz architektury kognitywne ACT-R i CAPS. Chociaż w tych teoriach są uwzględnione ograniczenia dotyczące przetwarzania lub aktywnego przechowywania, z którymi może wiązać się bierna regulacja zasobowa, to ważne pytania dotyczące mechanizmów takiej regulacji pozostają bez odpowiedzi. Wyjaśnienie odwołujące się do idei biernej regulacji zasobowej stawia przed modelami funkcjonowania umysłu nowe wyzwania. (shrink)

Liberalism and marxism are two forms of economism, which separate economic activity from ethics. The social teaching of the Church accepted continued by pope Benedict XVI recognizes the necessity of free market and limited intervention of the state in economy, but first of all postulates creativity of civil society in the field of economic life. The main arguments for observance of moral rules in the economic activity are following: 1. Every conscious and free men’s action is responsible for the effects (...) – economic activity cannot be any exception; 2. The same ethics ought to be applied in the individual-private life and in the public domain – also economy; 3. Ethos of economic activity is connected with three virtues – truth, love and justice (also social justice); 4. Christian-personalistic ethics is based on the principles auxialiarity (personalism) and common good (solidarity). Economic activity completely separated from ethics is inhuman. (shrink)

The subject matter of the paper is the John Paul II teachings on the fields of a state’s activity in economic life. The first part of article talks about general elements of economic order: private property, liberal market, a just salary for labour and the participation of workers in the control of a business. The second part of the paper confirms that the state ought to create a solid infrastructure of economy and to find a good balance between different sectors (...) of economic life. The last part of the paper shows that the state ought to interfere sometimes in the economic field, for example, to combat unemployment and poverty, or to protect the family. (shrink)

Sport plays today an eminent role in man's life and in societies. Various sciences have made it the subject-matter of their reflection, i.e. psychology, sociology, the natural and humanistic sciences, art, philosophy, and theology. The present work seeks to answer some fundamental questions connected with the phenomenon of sport: what is it for man? whether and when does it serve the social integration of a community? what are the premises and principles of the ethics of sportive activity? what is the (...) aesthetic dimension of sport? what are the relations between sport and religious faith? The philosophical profile is dominant in the book, taking into consideration various aspects of sport: anthropological, social, axiological, and theological. (shrink)

Al centrar su atención en Dios y en el hombre, con frecuencia Agustín nos ofrece su relación recíproca al nivel axiológico. La teoría agustiniana de los valores comporta un razonamiento filosófico y teológico a la vez. En la intersección de estos dos elementos se encuentra el problema de la jerarquía de los bienes y en el fondo podemos descubrir el teocentrismo agustiniano. En el pensamiento del obispo de Hipona, podemos distinguir un triple teocentrismo teleológico, que se completan y explican recíprocamente.

Paper has three parts. Te first part gives the reasons for need of liberty external-social of science guaranteed by law. Speaks about it Declaration of human rights in 1948 and social teaching of Church – including documents of Vaticanum II and Jean Paul II, which indicate of subjectivity and dignity of man as person. The second part of this paper based on personalism demonstrates that science can harmoniously develop only in the climate of internal-moral freedom of scientist. The purpose of (...) science is revelation of truth, but effects of scientific investigations – in particular of biological-medical sciences – influence on the life of human individuals and societies. Conscious and free activity of man has ethical character, therefore liberty of science ought to be responsible liberty and then to be subordinated the ethical criterions. Science cannot ignore values and rules moral. The third part of paper stated that good of human person and common good of society demand juridical limitations of scientific inquiries’ liberty. Liberty is man’s right but also its obligation to respect of human person’s fundamental rights – including right to life, integrality and dignity. Therefore internal-ethical and external-juridical limitations are necessary of scientist’s liberty. (shrink)

Freedom appears in the very centre of human existence: it constitutes its „heart", sanctuary, indispensible source of dignity, and mystery. Freedom makes man, homo sapiens, both a subject and a person. The history of humankind is a history of an unceasing struggle to conquer and widen the borders of its freedom, although often it is also a history of the betrayal of freedom, of enslaving others, or of an escape from freedom^. Freedom is a foundation of man's activity, determining its (...) purposefulness. It offers man a possibility of self-determination, internal development, though also of self-destruction. There are three main types of freedom: personalistic, individualistic and collectivistic. (shrink)