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Modernity on Endless Trial
Leszek Kolakowski delves into some of the most intellectually vigorous questions of our time in this remarkable collection of essays garnished with his characteristic wit. Ten of the essays have never appeared before in English.
"Exemplary. . . . It should be celebrated." —Arthur C. Danto, New York Times Book Review
"This book . . . express[es] Kolakowski's thought on God, man, reason, history, moral truth and original sin, prompted by observation of the dramatic struggle among Christianity, the Enlightenment and modern totalitarianism. It is a wonderful collection of topics." —Thomas Nagel, Times Literary Supplement
"No better antidote to bumper-sticker thinking exists than this collection of 24 'appeals for moderation in consistency,' and never has such an antidote been needed more than it is now." —Joseph Coates, Chicago Tribune
"Whether learned or humorous, these essays offer gems in prose of diamond hardness, precision, and brilliance." —Thomas D'Evelyn, The Christian Science Monitor
A "Notable Books of the Year 1991" selection, New York Times Book Review —a "Noted with Pleasure" selection, New York Times Book Review —a "Summer Reading 1991" selection, New York Times Book Review —a "Books of the Year" selection, The Times .
"Exemplary. . . . It should be celebrated." —Arthur C. Danto, New York Times Book Review
"This book . . . express[es] Kolakowski's thought on God, man, reason, history, moral truth and original sin, prompted by observation of the dramatic struggle among Christianity, the Enlightenment and modern totalitarianism. It is a wonderful collection of topics." —Thomas Nagel, Times Literary Supplement
"No better antidote to bumper-sticker thinking exists than this collection of 24 'appeals for moderation in consistency,' and never has such an antidote been needed more than it is now." —Joseph Coates, Chicago Tribune
"Whether learned or humorous, these essays offer gems in prose of diamond hardness, precision, and brilliance." —Thomas D'Evelyn, The Christian Science Monitor
A "Notable Books of the Year 1991" selection, New York Times Book Review —a "Noted with Pleasure" selection, New York Times Book Review —a "Summer Reading 1991" selection, New York Times Book Review —a "Books of the Year" selection, The Times .
267 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
29 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Leszek Kołakowski
132 books228 followersDistinguished Polish philosopher and historian of ideas. He is best known for his critical analysis of Marxist thought, especially his acclaimed three-volume history, Main Currents of Marxism. In his later work, Kolakowski increasingly focused on religious questions. In his 1986 Jefferson Lecture, he asserted that "We learn history not in order to know how to behave or how to succeed, but to know who we are.”
In Poland, Kołakowski is not only revered as a philosopher and historian of ideas, but also as an icon for opponents of communism. Adam Michnik has called Kołakowski "one of the most prominent creators of contemporary Polish culture".
Kołakowski died on 17 July 2009, aged 81, in Oxford, England. In his obituary, philosopher Roger Scruton said Kolakowski was a "thinker for our time" and that regarding Kolakowski's debates with intellectual opponents, "even if ... nothing remained of the subversive orthodoxies, nobody felt damaged in their ego or defeated in their life's project, by arguments which from any other source would have inspired the greatest indignation."
In Poland, Kołakowski is not only revered as a philosopher and historian of ideas, but also as an icon for opponents of communism. Adam Michnik has called Kołakowski "one of the most prominent creators of contemporary Polish culture".
Kołakowski died on 17 July 2009, aged 81, in Oxford, England. In his obituary, philosopher Roger Scruton said Kolakowski was a "thinker for our time" and that regarding Kolakowski's debates with intellectual opponents, "even if ... nothing remained of the subversive orthodoxies, nobody felt damaged in their ego or defeated in their life's project, by arguments which from any other source would have inspired the greatest indignation."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 17, 2011
Leszek Kołakowski provides an exhilarating reading experience—sober and impish, astute and erudite and capable of dispensing his wisdom in Polish, English, German, and French. Immersed in Really Existing Socialism for the first half of his life as a Polish academic and subsequently exiled to the capitalist democracies of the West for a majority of the second, he has experienced the post-Second World War bifurcation at first hand and can report intelligently and thoughtfully from a lifetime of observation and reflection. This collection of essays—or, as Kołakowski refers to them, semiphilosophical sermons—represent his appeals for moderation in consistency and proceed down diverse avenues for the exploration of troubling and paradoxical tendencies in the religious, political, philosophical, and societal composition of the regnant branch of humanity labelled modernity. Each one reflects the polished brilliance of its author—and in the glow of that learned light, much worth considering afresh, or anew, is limned with a playful, lively intelligence for the edificatory delight of the reader. At their heart lies an abhorrence of idealistic utopias—of the perfervid belief in a universal homogeneity in pursuit of the ever elusive and so-called good that lies at the end of all violence-soaked rainbows—that is coupled with a tendency to conservative caution and the perceived wisdom of the spiritual ballast inherent in Christian soteriology.
Loathe as I am to stick political labels on myself, as seems to be the height of fashion in these interesting times—you gotta support the team!—if I was ever forced to make a choice, I just might declare myself aligned with Kołakowski's late-seventies creation as a Conservative-Liberal-Socialist . Partaking of the best of different worlds and combining these choice selections into an eminently workable whole; for the genial Pole it was more than an abstract philosophy, it was life.
Loathe as I am to stick political labels on myself, as seems to be the height of fashion in these interesting times—you gotta support the team!—if I was ever forced to make a choice, I just might declare myself aligned with Kołakowski's late-seventies creation as a Conservative-Liberal-Socialist . Partaking of the best of different worlds and combining these choice selections into an eminently workable whole; for the genial Pole it was more than an abstract philosophy, it was life.
March 26, 2018
Treatises on morality in politics and religion in the West in the latter half of the 20th century. Some of it was over my head as I don't have the classical education to appreciate many of his references. But I did appreciate what I took time to read carefully and understand, particularly the later essays concerning ideology and politics, the validity of Christian tradition and of democracy in an increasingly technological world, and the methods and effects of totalitarianism upon its citizens. Not an easy read but a rewarding one.
August 30, 2022
The single most influential philosopher for me to date. No other collection of essays has gone to the heart of so many dizzying questions in my mind. Particularly memorable for me are Modernity on Endless Trial, Searching for the Barbarians, Politics and the Devil, the Idolatry of Politics and Why an Ideology Is Always Right. Ever-present is the idea of the dilemma, not merely a problem, but an intractable problem, where unrelenting consistency in either direction leads to devastating pitfalls. Moderation in consistency thus cements itself as the central theme of this collection.
December 18, 2008
Fluid writer.
August 20, 2021
This is definitely not a beach read. These are dense, philosophical essays. In “The Intellectuals” he writes, “But the intellectuals are masters and rulers of the word, and not its servants - at least in their own estimation.” That gave me a chuckle since there is an “intellectual” on a podcast I listen to who has been working on the same book for 10 years.
In another essay he writes, “It cannot be ruled out that, for instance, a presently unknown sect which today perhaps counts 50 members in Oklahoma, will not one day abruptly and inexplicably expand and change the situation of the world within a few years.” This essay was written in 1984 which was the same year David Koresh started his own sect of the Branch Davidians.
“The General Theory of Not-Gardening” was funny. It used different philosophies to justify to not garden (I have a brown thumb).
In another essay he writes, “It cannot be ruled out that, for instance, a presently unknown sect which today perhaps counts 50 members in Oklahoma, will not one day abruptly and inexplicably expand and change the situation of the world within a few years.” This essay was written in 1984 which was the same year David Koresh started his own sect of the Branch Davidians.
“The General Theory of Not-Gardening” was funny. It used different philosophies to justify to not garden (I have a brown thumb).
March 26, 2023
"Modernity on Endless Trial" is a book by Polish philosopher Leszek Kolakowski, first published in 1974. The book is a critical analysis of the concept of modernity and its impact on Western society and culture.
Kolakowski suggests that modernity is characterized by a tension between progress and tradition, and that this tension has led to a crisis of meaning and identity in contemporary society. He argues that modernity has brought about a fundamental transformation of human consciousness, and has led to a loss of faith in traditional values and institutions.
Kolakowski also critiques the idea of historical progress, suggesting that it is based on a flawed understanding of history and human nature. He argues that the pursuit of progress has led to a loss of perspective and a disregard for the wisdom of the past.
Overall, "Modernity on Endless Trial" is an important contribution to the study of modernity and its impact on contemporary society. The book has been widely read by scholars of philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies, and has contributed to ongoing debates about the nature of modernity and its role in shaping human experience.
GPT
Kolakowski suggests that modernity is characterized by a tension between progress and tradition, and that this tension has led to a crisis of meaning and identity in contemporary society. He argues that modernity has brought about a fundamental transformation of human consciousness, and has led to a loss of faith in traditional values and institutions.
Kolakowski also critiques the idea of historical progress, suggesting that it is based on a flawed understanding of history and human nature. He argues that the pursuit of progress has led to a loss of perspective and a disregard for the wisdom of the past.
Overall, "Modernity on Endless Trial" is an important contribution to the study of modernity and its impact on contemporary society. The book has been widely read by scholars of philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies, and has contributed to ongoing debates about the nature of modernity and its role in shaping human experience.
GPT
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March 23, 2009Recommended by Dr. Lundin
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews