Leon Chwistek (Kraków, Austria-Hungary, 13 June 1884 – Barvikha near Moscow, Russia, 20 August 1944) was a Polish logician, philosopher, mathematician, avant-garde painter, theoretician of modern art and literary critic.
Career and philosophy
In 1919 he was one of the founders of the Polish Mathematical Society. From 1922, he lectured in mathematics for natural scientists at the Jagiellonian University, where he obtained his habilitation in 1928 in mathematical logic.
Starting in 1929, Chwistek was a Professor of Logic at the University of Lwów in a position for which Alfred Tarski had also applied. His interests in the 1930s were in a general system of philosophy of science, which was published in a book translated in English 1948 as The Limits of Science.
In the 1920s–30s, many European philosophers attempted to reform traditional philosophy by means of mathematical logic. Leon Chwistek did not believe that such reform could succeed. He thought that reality could not be described in one homogeneous system, based on the principles of formal logic, because there was not one reality but many.
After the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of Lwów (renamed to Lviv) by the USSR, he remained at the university. He also started cooperation with Czerwony Sztandar. In September 1940, he joined the Union of Soviet Writers of Ukraine. In June 1941, just before the entry of the German troops, he evacuated from Lviv together with the Soviet troops deep into Russia. From 1941 to 1943, he lived in Tbilisi, where he taught mathematical analysis, and from 1943 in Moscow. He was active in the Union of Polish Patriots in the USSR.
Chwistek argued against the axiomatic method by demonstrating that the extant axiomatic systems are inconsistent.
Artist
Chwistek developed his theory of the multiplicity of realities first with regard to the arts. He distinguished four basic types of realities, then matched them with four basic types of painting.
The four types of realities were:
- 1. popular reality (common-sense realism)
- 2. physical reality (constructed by physics)
- 3. phenomenal reality (sensory impressions)
- 4. visionary/intuitive reality (dreams, hallucinations, subconscious states).
The types of painting corresponding to the above were:
- 1. Primitivism
- 2. Realism
- 3. Impressionism
- 4. Futurism
Chwistek never intended his views to constitute a new metaphysical theory. He was a defender of "common sense" against metaphysics and irrational feeling. His theory of plural reality was merely an attempt to specify the various ways in which the term, “real,” is used.
Chwistek's fellow artist and closest friend, Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, harshly criticized his philosophical views. Witkiewicz's own philosophy was based on a monadic character to the individual's existence, embracing a multiplicity of existences, with the world being made up of a multiplicity of Particular Existences. In his 1919 painting titled Fencing inspirations from avant-garde trends prior to World War I such as cubism, Italian futurism, and Robert Delaunay’s simultanism can be observed.
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Fencing, 1919 -
Portrait of Tytus Czyżewski, c.1920 -
Female Nude – Butterflies, c.1920 -
Bathers, c.1920 -
Reclining Female Nude, c.1922 -
Leda, c.1925 -
Feast, 1925 -
Venus, 1928 -
Carousel, 1936 -
Nude, 1939
Works
- The limits of science. Outline of logic and of the methodology of the exact sciences. Translated from the Polish by Helen Charlotte Brodie and Arthur P. Coleman; introduction and appendix by Helen Charlotte Brodie. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1948
See also
- History of philosophy in Poland
- List of Poles
References
- "Leon Chwistek". culture.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- Linsky, Bernard (2009). "Leon Chwistek's Theory of Constructive Types". The Golden Age of Polish Philosophy: 203–219. doi:10.1007/978-90-481-2401-5_15. ISBN 978-90-481-2400-8.
- Bohdan Urbankowski, The Red Mass, or the Smile of Stalin, vol. 1, Warsaw 1998, p. 123.
- "Leon Chwistek". culture.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- First chapter of Chwistek, The Limits of Science
- Przemysław Strożek. "Fencing – Leon Chwistek". culture.pl. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
External links
- Polish Philosophy Page: Leon Chwistek at the Wayback Machine (archived October 30, 2007)
- Profile of Leon Chwistek at Culture.pl
- Instituto Polaco de Cultura: Artola, Inés R. (2015), Formiści: la síntesis de la modernidad (1917 – 1922). Conexiones y protagonistas, Granada: Libargo, ISBN 978-84-938812-7-6
Leon Chwistek Krakow Austria Hungary 13 June 1884 Barvikha near Moscow Russia 20 August 1944 was a Polish logician philosopher mathematician avant garde painter theoretician of modern art and literary critic Leon ChwistekPortrait of Leon Chwistek by Witkacy 1913Career and philosophyIn 1919 he was one of the founders of the Polish Mathematical Society From 1922 he lectured in mathematics for natural scientists at the Jagiellonian University where he obtained his habilitation in 1928 in mathematical logic Starting in 1929 Chwistek was a Professor of Logic at the University of Lwow in a position for which Alfred Tarski had also applied His interests in the 1930s were in a general system of philosophy of science which was published in a book translated in English 1948 as The Limits of Science In the 1920s 30s many European philosophers attempted to reform traditional philosophy by means of mathematical logic Leon Chwistek did not believe that such reform could succeed He thought that reality could not be described in one homogeneous system based on the principles of formal logic because there was not one reality but many After the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of Lwow renamed to Lviv by the USSR he remained at the university He also started cooperation with Czerwony Sztandar In September 1940 he joined the Union of Soviet Writers of Ukraine In June 1941 just before the entry of the German troops he evacuated from Lviv together with the Soviet troops deep into Russia From 1941 to 1943 he lived in Tbilisi where he taught mathematical analysis and from 1943 in Moscow He was active in the Union of Polish Patriots in the USSR Chwistek argued against the axiomatic method by demonstrating that the extant axiomatic systems are inconsistent ArtistChwistek developed his theory of the multiplicity of realities first with regard to the arts He distinguished four basic types of realities then matched them with four basic types of painting The four types of realities were 1 popular reality common sense realism 2 physical reality constructed by physics 3 phenomenal reality sensory impressions 4 visionary intuitive reality dreams hallucinations subconscious states The types of painting corresponding to the above were 1 Primitivism 2 Realism 3 Impressionism 4 Futurism Chwistek never intended his views to constitute a new metaphysical theory He was a defender of common sense against metaphysics and irrational feeling His theory of plural reality was merely an attempt to specify the various ways in which the term real is used Chwistek s fellow artist and closest friend Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz harshly criticized his philosophical views Witkiewicz s own philosophy was based on a monadic character to the individual s existence embracing a multiplicity of existences with the world being made up of a multiplicity of Particular Existences In his 1919 painting titled Fencing inspirations from avant garde trends prior to World War I such as cubism Italian futurism and Robert Delaunay s simultanism can be observed Fencing 1919 Portrait of Tytus Czyzewski c 1920 Female Nude Butterflies c 1920 Bathers c 1920 Reclining Female Nude c 1922 Leda c 1925 Feast 1925 Venus 1928 Carousel 1936 Nude 1939WorksThe limits of science Outline of logic and of the methodology of the exact sciences Translated from the Polish by Helen Charlotte Brodie and Arthur P Coleman introduction and appendix by Helen Charlotte Brodie New York Harcourt Brace 1948See alsoHistory of philosophy in Poland List of PolesReferences Leon Chwistek culture pl in Polish Retrieved 11 April 2024 Linsky Bernard 2009 Leon Chwistek s Theory of Constructive Types The Golden Age of Polish Philosophy 203 219 doi 10 1007 978 90 481 2401 5 15 ISBN 978 90 481 2400 8 Bohdan Urbankowski The Red Mass or the Smile of Stalin vol 1 Warsaw 1998 p 123 Leon Chwistek culture pl in Polish Retrieved 11 April 2024 First chapter of Chwistek The Limits of Science Przemyslaw Strozek Fencing Leon Chwistek culture pl Retrieved 11 April 2024 External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Leon Chwistek Polish Philosophy Page Leon Chwistek at the Wayback Machine archived October 30 2007 Profile of Leon Chwistek at Culture pl Instituto Polaco de Cultura Artola Ines R 2015 Formisci la sintesis de la modernidad 1917 1922 Conexiones y protagonistas Granada Libargo ISBN 978 84 938812 7 6
