Studia Gilsoniana (Sep 2021)

Zamoyska’s Conception of Work as a Method of Self-Fulfillment

  • Maria Joanna Gondek

DOI
https://doi.org/10.26385/SG.100326
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 3
pp. 667 – 689

Abstract

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Zamoyska presented reflections unique for the European social thought. She identified with philosophical and religious views considering work as the fundamental manner of fulfilling man’s individual and social life. However, from the standpoint of a practical human life, these ideas lacked an important factor. And namely, showing precisely the way of performing work itself. Thus, work requires employing an appropriate method, which translates directly into the practice of human life. And she did not mean a narrowly conceived method, concerning selected jobs or some kind of man’s professional activities. The suggested method referred to work which every man needs to undertake in order to fulfill his or her life. It concerned work which enables men to fulfill themselves in the most fundamental dimension as humans. This is accomplished by man undertaking systematically three kinds of work throughout their life: physical, intellectual and spiritual. They are interdependent and mutually complementary, this is why none of them may be excluded during human life. Only their parallel continuation ensures man’s harmonious development. The suggested method is universal since it concerns the way of performing work as a factor conditioning the fulfillment of human life. Thereby, her considerations on the method of work bring new meaning into the field of practical philosophy.

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