Charakterystyka gniewu na podstawie pism o. Jacka Woronieckiego

Abstract

Among the many competences and feelings there are some which can be described as typically human. In order to understand the nature of anger it is worth considering the words of outstanding thinkers and moral authorities. A Dominican, Father Jack Woroniecki (1878-1949) claimed that anger is a vital power which arouses in a human being in the face of evil or obstacles. In the sphere of senses it appears spontaneously as the feeling of anger. However, in the sphere of mental activity it is always a stronger effort on the part of the will. The author discusses three characteristic types of anger: children's, parents' and tutors' anger, as well as that of superiors. Children's anger, which is manifested in the form of external acts (beating and insulting both peers and older people) not only deserves contempt, but also physical punishment. Parents' and tutors' anger always triggers in children and youth opposition and anger, or fear and mistrust. However, superior's anger makes people in power perform all activities with a certain tinge of irritation: they give orders with a raised tone of voice, permissions with a noticeable unwillingness, and they reprimand too frequently. According to Woroniecki frequent bursts of anger give rise to a flaw of angriness which is a constant concern of the mind: maliciousness, offensiveness and vindictiveness. It is sanguinic who is usually malicious. Such a person flares up in anger, but the feeling passes away just as quickly and such a person does not consider revenge. A melancholic is offensive. Such people, although they hide the first manifestations of anger, harbour grudges against others. A choleric is always vindictive. Such people will never rest until they have avenged the experienced injustice. According to the author there are two extremes in the sphere of anger: cruelty and indifference. Cruelty, as a sign of a decline of moral standards, is not only revenge, but a certain kind of pleasure derived from inflicting pain onto others and searching for opportunities to do so. Indifference, on the other hand, being a total lack of anger, may be caused by phlegmatic disposition, some illness or being completely unmoved by what is morally good or bad. Other consequences of anger, according to Woroniecki, are: suspicion, dishonesty, anger of the tongue and unkindness. Suspicion, is a certain kind of concern of the mind leading to distrust and prejudice against others. Dishonesty, as an incompatibility of thoughts and speech, may be a way to harm another person. The flaw of anger of the tongue is blatant and frequent hurling of: abuses, scorns and mockery. Unkindness, on the other hand, is manifested in constant unwillingness and contempt towards other people, even from among one's closest family. Father Woroniecki claims that anger in itself is neither bad nor good. It is how we use it that gives it moral value. That is why moderation in the sphere of anger is the shaping of the following virtues: gentleness, quietness, understanding and “holy wrath”. Among them there is the virtue of “holy wrath”, a positive competence which aims at retaliation for wrongdoing done by somebody else, which under some circumstances may be treated as goodness. The author recommends such an attitude, especially as concerns respecting justice, morality or glorifying God.