Ks. Antoni Szymański jako pionier polityki społecznej w Polsce

Abstract

This text is a summary of a revised version of the presentation delivered al a conference entitled: Father Antoni Szymański (1881-1942). Rector Seienlts Social Activist, held on October 9th, 2012 at the Catholic University of Lublin John Paul II. The full text of the speech will be released at a later date in a separate book presenting the conference. From the contents of a presentation, a picture emerges of Father Szymanski ‒ of him being a scholar and social activist. He practiced social policy in the spirit of Catholic social teaching, giving the University of Lublin an appropriate axiological „color”. The question that intrigued Father Szymański in the social aspect of that lime was dominated by issues related to wage labor. He gave emphasis to the subjectivity of the workers ‒ concentrating on their personal dignity. He did not forget about the priority of the Christian social way of thinking and in any genuine social policy, namely, still emphasizing the option for social layers and the vulnerability of the socially underprivileged groups. He pointed to the transformation of social structures, so that people (anti especially those of the underprivileged) may live better lives. Social policy was practiced by him as a scientific discipline and social practice, not only in accordance with its then-understanding. It should be noted that the inclusion of this policy in a way consistent with the spirit of the modern terms, which further proves his right to be called a societal politician.