The Phantom of Poland. Galicia in Stanislav Brzozovsky's Life and Thought

Abstract

This paper presents some ideas of Stanislav Brzozovsky (1878–1911) concerning the problem of Galicia in his philosopy of history and social philosopy with the highest regard to the problem of Polish national identity. In some aspects Brzozovsky's remarks on historical and contemporary Galicia is a negative of his Polish Idea i.e.the constructive vision of Polish nation's mission in world's history. The article explores the galician episode in the life of polish thinker (1905–1907), his profound connections with galician culture and political life and – last but not least – his galician circle and friendships. The author of this essay claims the following period to be the most important time in the writer's short life with regard – both to – his ideas and private life. In the second part some ideas of Brzozovsky are presented: (i) the concept of Galicia as a „seeming-land”; (ii) the criticism of the Galician philospohy, academic institutions and cultural life and (iii) the ironic vision of Galicia as death land and funeral center of Polish and european culture.