Ferdinand Zweig’s Humanistic Liberalism

Abstract

The output of Polish thinkers is a source of interesting scientific concepts and valuable ideas of contemporary relevance. One of them is formulated by an outstanding Polish thinker of the interwar period, Ferdinand Zweig. This author is known as a representative – along with Adam Krzyżanowski and Adam Heydl – of the Cracow school of economics. However, it is also important to emphasise the F. Zweig’s legal education, which largely influenced the interdisciplinary nature of his scientific interests. In his research work, the thinker went beyond the traditional framework of economics, emphasising that many of the problems considered in this field reflect ongoing philosophical disputes, above all axiological and anthropological ones, also concerning the issue of justice and law.

The aim of this paper is to introduce F. Zweig’s position, which he himself refers to as neo‑ liberalism, social liberalism or humanistic liberalism. Each of the cited names used by the author emphasises a different aspect of the concept he proclaims. Neoliberalism indicates the distinctness of the presented approach from the traditional understanding of liberalism associated primarily with economic freedom considered as a fundamental value. The adjective “social” indicates the link between individual freedom and concern for the fate of the community within which one functions, which leads to the postulation of pro‑ social political solutions. The term humanistic liberalism, on the other hand, refers to the recognition of man as the highest value and as a being capable of development, striving for perfection and equipped with the ability to exercise freedom.