Violence

DEFINITION OF THE TERM: Arriving at an adequate definition of the term “violence” is problematic due to the complexity involved in understanding the intentions of a perpetrator of violence. Different approaches to violence depend on the researcher’s methodological and contentual approach. HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TERM: The article outlines the historical context of the various approaches to violence, including those of the Sophists and those formulated within modern political philosophy founded on the ideas of Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The two concepts differ but share the conviction that institutional violence used by a sovereign is an important aspect of enforcing legal order in a state. DISCUSSION OF THE TERM: Violence is not a typical ethical problem. In this section of the article, the causes of violence are analysed and characterised from psychological, sociological, and cognitive science perspectives. Violent behaviour is treated as resulting from both individual and socio-institutional dysfunctions. Analysis is based on axiological theories (Max Scheler), political philosophy (Hannah Arendt), theories based on cognitive research on the causes of evil (Simon Baron-Cohen), and the findings of social psychologists and sociologists who investigate violence (Irena Pospiszyl, Agnieszka Widera-Wysoczyńska, Jacek Pyżalski). SYSTEMATIC REFLECTION WITH CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The philosophical approach to violence seeks to understand the essential nature of violence, which in the context of this article is understood as a key aspect of moral evil. We often encounter various forms of aggression and violence (both physical and mental) in social life. Recently, we have witnessed an intensification of verbal and pictorial violence within the media. This section of the article lists the publications that are devoted to violence (apart from those that are included in the References).Jesuit University Ignatianum in KrakowAnzenbacher, A. (2010). Chrisliche Sozialethik. Einführung und Prinzipen [Wprowadzenie do chrześcijańskiej etyki społecznej], trans. L. Łysień. Kraków: Wydawnictwo WAM. Arendt, H. (2003). Responsibility and Judgment [Odpowiedzialność osobista w warunkach dyktatury], trans. W. Madej and M. Godyń. In: H. Arendt, Odpowiedzialność i władza sądzenia. Warszawa: Pruszyński i S-ka. Violence 275 Baron-Cohen, S. (2014). Zero Degrees of Evil [Teoria zła. O empatii i genezie okrucieństwa], trans. A. Nowak. Sopot: Wydawnictwo Smak Słowa. Hobbes, T. (2005). Leviathan [Lewiatan, czyli materia, forma i władza państwa kościelnego i świeckiego], trans. Cz. Znamierowski. Warszawa: Fundacja Aletheia. Krokiewicz, A. (1995). Zarys filozofii greckiej. Od Talesa do Platona. Arystoteles, Pirron i Plotyn. Warszawa: Fundacja Aletheia. Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. (2005). Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Kielce: Wydawnictwo Jedność. Retrieved from: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace (accessed: 18.02.2020). Pospiszyl, I. (2008). Przemoc w rodzinie. In: B. Urban and J.M. Stanik (ed.), Resocjalizacja. Vol. 2. Warszawa: PWSPR, PWN, 71‒80. Pyżalski, J. (2012). Agresja elektroniczna wśród dzieci i młodzieży. Kraków: Impuls. Rousseau, J.-J. (1956). Discours sur l’origine de l’inégalité [Rozprawa o pochodzeniu nierówności], transl. H. Elzenberg. In: J.-J. Rousseau, Trzy rozprawy z filozofii społecznej. Warszawa: PWN, 107–278. Scheler, M. (1988). Der Formalismus in der Ethik und die materiale Wertethik [Stosunek wartości “dobry” i “zły” do pozostałych wartości i do dóbr] (fragm.), trans. W. Galewicz. In: W. Galewicz (ed.), Z fenomenologii wartości. Teksty filozoficzne. Kraków: Papieska Akademia Teologiczna, 60–66. Wojtyła, K. (1986). Wykłady lubelskie. Człowiek i moralność. Part III. Ed. T. Styczeń et al. Lublin: Wydawnictwo TN KUL. Widera-Wysoczyńska, A. (2010), Mechanizmy