The decline of Poland as a “pre-figure” of the decline of Europe (on the genesis of Witkacy’s catastrophism)
The decline of Poland as a “pre-figure” of the decline of Europe (on the genesis of Witkacy’s catastrophism)

Summary/Abstract: This subject belongs to the interpretational canon of Witkacy’s philosophy of history to situate him among the numerous families of European catastrophists: Spengler, Ortegay- Gasset, Simmel, Berdyaev and others. An illusion is created that Polish decadency, which is continued by Witkacy, was a phenomenon accompanying the premonition of the crisis and fall that were outlined in Europe in the twilight of la belle époque and became stronger after the upheaval of World War I. However, Poland had been engrossed in pessimism, the feeling of failure and masochist self-flagellation much earlier (and longer) than the culture of the West. The obsession with catastrophe would come back after every failed uprising, every new wave of exile, emigration and disappointment.

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