Modelowe postawy etyczne

Abstract

The author has sdngled out four ethical patterns from the analysis of replies to a conooiunse on the theme of family life in the oontemporary Polish intelligentsia. The Catholic family pattern is based on faith and the ethics of the Catholic Church. The principies behind thęir outlook on society play a basic role in this pattern in the following situations: chodioe of spouse, birth control by means of periodic continence, the religious upbringing of children, and the solution of family conflicts based on Cathiolic ethilical principies and the help of grace. The distinction between the traditional Catholic attitude and Cathodicism by choice is here fairly marked. The latter is nearer the mentality of contemporary man and his religious formation finds it easier to solve problems of childrearing. An analysis of the journals supports the statement that the ethical values of Catholicism prevail in practice in the lives of families of the Polish intelligentsia. The adherents of the Marxist family pattern are recruited from those who formerly professed Catholic ethics. As a resuit of pedagogical errors of their parents, the ideological activities of youth organizatians and their own thought, they came to profess the Marxist attitude. They reject the religious factor in the explanation of ethical norma of family life. In the area of division of labour within the home and communication with the younger generation, they display greater elasticity. A certain passion for the propagation of the Marxist pattern among their milieu is not foreign to them. The pattern of the leicized family also excludes the religious factor in the ethical life of the family. Despite this, these families are characterized by their considerable tolerance of other views. The aims in life and pedagogical goals of this group of families of the intelligentsia do not reach beyond temporality. Within morality so understood, the chief principies of behaviour are: a high level of personal culture and courtesy, an open attitude towards all positive goals and values, preoccupation with upbringing, and the full development of the personality. Their attitude to life can be sumed up in the saying: they prefer to ”be”, rather than to "have” . The "eudaimonistic” pattern has no clearly definid ethical system. The chief principle of behaviour is: „wihatevar brings pleasure or happiness is good”. The happiness is most ofiten understood in a utilitarian and hedonistic manner. Love in married life assumes the form of biological and instinctive love, which in the long run may lead to divorce. In this pattern we most see the occurrence of indifferentism to an outlook on life. The lack of firm ethical conviations adversely affects the moral upbringing of the children. Of those who follow this ethical pattern of the contemporary Polish family of the intelligentsia, the saying: ”they prefer to ”have”, rather than to ”be”, is appropriate.