The Idea of Progress in the Writings of Józef Ordęga (1802–1879)
Abstract
Józef Ordęga (1802–1879) was a Polish nobleman, participant in the November Uprising, and then one of the activists of the Great Emigration in France. In this article, I have undertaken to analyse the importance of the idea of progress in his writings from 1838–1846, when he attempted to carry out independent political activity. I pointed out that he drew a strong inspiration from the doctrine of French utopian socialism, in particular from Philippe Buchez – a Saint-Simonian. By following him, Ordęga, believed that progress consisted in the fulfillment by humanity of the goals gradually revealed by God. He claimed that the ideas related to the French Revolution, such as liberty, equality, fraternity, were the implementation of the teachings of Christ and were fundamentally Catholic. In addition, he ascribed a special role to Poland in the general process of progress, expressing hope that in the future Poland would be reborn as a fully democratic state.
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