Józef M. Bocheński and the Cracow circle

Jan Woleński

pp. 5-15

in: Dariusz Łukasiewicz, Ryszard Mordarski (eds), Józef Maria Bocheński, Studies in East European Thought 65, 2013.

Abstract

Józef M. Bocheński began his philosophical career as an eclectic philosopher, then switched to Thomism and finally became a representative of the analytic school. As a Thomist he wanted to reform this orientation by the resources of modern formal logic. This tendency culminated in the establishment of the Cracow Circle (established in 1936) whose members were Bocheński, Jan F. Drewnowski, Jan Salamucha, and Bolesław Sobociński. However, the program of the Cracow Circle was rejected by most Thomists who considered traditional logic as an entirely sufficient device of philosophy. Bocheński was very disappointed by this attitude of his Thomist fellows. His evolution toward analytic philosophy, free of any ideological pressure, can be regarded as his reaction to the conservatism of Thomism.

Cited authors

Bocheński Joseph