Humanism as the foundation of the theory of „ius gentium” formulated in Krakow in the 15th century

pdf(en)
Published
February 16, 2023
Series
Vol. VIII: Culture Studies
Copyright (c) 2022 Social Dictionaries
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Humanism as the foundation of the theory of „ius gentium” formulated in Krakow in the 15th century

Authors

Wanda Bajor
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2121-0608
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35765/slowniki.247
Keywords:
humanizm, godność człowieka, prawo, wolność, tolerancja

Synopsis

DEFINITION OF THE TERM: The medieval doctrine of the law of nations (ius gentium) is a system of international law formulated in the first half of the 15th century by Polish medieval scholars in Krakow, one of whom was Paweł Włodkowic (Latin: Paulus Vladimiri). This doctrine was based on the humanist principle of respect for the dignity of the human being and the evangelical imperative to love one’s neighbour, i.e., every human being.

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TERM: The theory of international law (ius gentium), which dates back to prehistoric times, has evolved over the centuries and has been subjected to intellectual investigation. It was creatively elaborated on and systematised by scholars from Krakow long before Francisco de Vittoria and Grotius developed their version of this theory, which makes these Poles its forerunners. Examples of its practical application include a dispute between Poles and the Teutonic Order, the meetings of the Council of Constance (1415–1418), and the defence of fundamental human rights and the rights of nations.

DISCUSSION OF THE TERM: The article presents the Polish socio-political and moral thought which was embedded in European doctrines and was inspired in particular by the ideas of Christian humanism, all of which form the ideological background that influenced the creators of the Polish medieval school of international law and constituted the foundation of their ius gentium doctrine.

SYSTEMATIC REFLECTION WITH CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The article presents the Polish school of international law from the perspective of its defence of fundamental human rights and the values on which Western civilisation is founded, namely freedom, equality and fraternity of all people, tolerance and the subjectivity of nations; this school also provided the foundations for building a collective identity and national community. The article also discusses contemporary ideological determinants and socio-cultural mechanisms related to these values.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bajor, W., & Janecki, M.J. (2021). Victorina polonica: présences victorines dans la culture intellectuelle de la Pologne du Moyen Âge et aujourd’hui. W: D. Poirel & in. (red.) Omnium expetendorum prima est sapientia Studies on Victorine thought and influence. (s. 443–470). Brepols: Turnhout.

Bełch, S. (1965). Paulus Vladimiri and his doctrine concerning international law and politics. Vol. 1. London–Paris: De Gruyter Mouton.

Czartoryski, P. (1963). Wczesna recepcja „Polityki” Arystotelesa na Uniwersytecie Krakowskim. Wrocław: Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich.

Czerkawski, J. (1992). Humanizm i scholastyka. Studia z dziejów kultury filozoficznej w Polsce XVI i XVII wieku. Lublin: Redakcja Wydawnictw Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego.

Domański, J. (2009). Philologica, litteraria, humaniora. Studia i szkice z dziejów recepcji dziedzictwa antycznego. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.

Domański, J. (2011). Scholastyka i początki humanizmu w myśli polskiej XV wieku. Warszawa: Instytut Tomistyczny.

Ehrlich, L. (1968)., Pisma wybrane Pawła Włodkowica. T. 1–3. Warszawa: Instytut Wydawniczy PAX.

Jaeger, W. (2017). Victorine Humanism. W: H.B. Feiss & J. Mousseau (red.), A Companion to the Abbey of Saint Victor in Paris. Leyde: Brill.

Jan Paweł II. (2005). Pamięć i tożsamość. Rozmowy na przełomie tysiącleci. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Znak.

Jasudowicz, T. (1994–1995). Zasada tolerancji religijnej w nauczaniu Pawła Włodkowica. Roczniki Nauk Społecznych, 1, 47–68.

Nowak, A. (2017). Dzieje Polski. T. 1: 1340–1468. Królestwo zwycięskiego orła. Kraków: Biały Kruk.

Rau, Z., & Tulejski, T. (2014). Bellum iustum versus bellum sacrum. Uniwersalny spór w refleksji średniowiecznej. Konstancja 1414–1418. Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek.

Seńko, W. (1972). Z badań nad historią myśli społeczno-politycznej w Polsce w XV wieku. W: R. Palacz (red.), Filozofia polska XV wieku. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.

Stanisław ze Skarbimierza. (1998). Sermo de dignitate doctorandi. W: M. Korolko (oprac.), Mowy wybrane o mądrości, (s.183). Kraków: Offi­cina Arcana.

Wielgus, S. (1998). The Medieval Polish Doctrine of the Law of Nations. «Ius gentium». Tłum. J.M. Grondelski. Lublin: University Press of the Catholic University of Lublin.