Kwestia duchowej tożsamości Europy: stanowisko Angeli Ales Bello
The question of the spiritual identity of Europe: the view of Angela Ales Bello

Summary/Abstract: The article elucidates the views of the eminent contemporary Italian philosopher, Angela Ales Bello, who is an expert in the thought of Edmund Husserl and Edith Stein in respect of the spiritual identity of the Old Continent. The philosophical thought defined Europe in such a significant degree that without it one finds it impossible to capture and comprehend the culture and the pub¬lic, social and political life of Europeans, nor their mentality. The philosopher presents this truth in an original way, which is evident from the context the she provides for this truth, namely the history of Western philosophy, starting with its origins in Greece. While presenting the impact of philosophical reflection on the spiritual (cultural) identity of Europe, Bello develops and stresses the significance of the view as presented by two eminent philosophers, Husserl and Stein in respect of the relationship between philosophy and European culture. This view still appears as an unshaken landmark with intellectual and moral relevance (content) for today’s humanity. If the Europeans do not lose sight of it, they will be able to retain their own identity and continue their universal and spiritual mission with respect to other cultures, too. For the above thinkers, philosophy must re¬main a measure of thinking and acting due to its nature: focusing on the search for objectivity of perception (open to criticism), truth and wisdom which include the dimension of praxis and assuming responsibility for the cultural heritage. This character of the philo¬sophical theory is reflected by the Christian doctrine with its uni¬versalism of the message, which not only is consistent with the spirit of the Greek thought (Husserl) but it also develops and enriches this spirit (Stein). It becomes clear, then, why both Husserl and Stein, albeit not explicitly, offer the Europeans a vi¬sion of existence based on the Christian tradition. The Author of these considerations attempts to highlight and treat individually Bello’s view of the spiritual identity of Europe – the identity which she never interpreted openly as is shown by both the titles of her works and their subject matter. The Author also undertakes to evaluate this view, stressing and trying to demonstrate the currency and significance of Bello’s ideas. Also, he clarifies and discusses a claim that she left without a comment, which therefore may seem somewhat vague, namely that it was with Parmenides and Heraclitus that philosophy started for real.

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