Counteracting aggression. Pedagogical implications of Józef Tischner’s philosophy

Abstract

The problem of aggression occupies an important place in the work of Józef Tischner. A form of aggression is, among other things, retaliation. The source of retaliation is the experience of harm. One of the greatest moral challenges that a human being has to face, is to learn not to respond with aggression to aggression. According to the philosopher, this task is not beyond the limits of human capabilities. Philosophy is helpful in accomplishing it. It shows a human person as a being facing various problems, limitations, and suffering. Tischner’s philosophy teaches to understand a human being, instead of judging and moralizing them. This philosophy makes us aware that our own point of view is not the only one, nor the ultimate one. It explains that the attacker is guided by some reasons, although to defend them, they uses theworst possible methods. They is a human being who suffers and therefore causes suffering.