Rabindranath Tagore i jego idea jedności ogólnoludzkiej

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to outline and bring closer the personality of an outstanding 20th century Indian humanist and educator, and to discuss the main philosophical and sociological ideas present in his writing, especially the utopian project of all-human unity (viśvamanava). The author of the paper points to the historical and intellectual background of Tagore’s conceptions and argues for the continuous relevance of his observations and conclusions expressed in his philosophical essays, poetry and novels. What is referred to as the most significant feature of the Indian thinker’s point of view is his highly critical evaluation of nationalism, narrow-minded patriotism and xenophobia. Moreover, the paper discusses some pedagogical and ecological ideas of the founder of Viśva-Bharati University, as well as his universal project of a great synthesis of the traditional ideals of the East — including Indian, Chinese and Japanese culture — with modern science and patterns of thinking typical of the Western cultural tradition.