"To become aware of one’s own identity..." how can it be accomplished? : two answers in the times of poland’s partitionings : Maurycy Mochnacki and Stanisław Witkiewicz

Polish political thought is closely connected with the dates that marked historical moments in the life of the state. The fall of the Polish‐Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795 was a moment that marked a shift in the Polish political thought from the idea of freedom and state reform to the idea of regaining independence. The collapse of a state led to the redefinition of national identity by the Poles. Maurycy Mochnacki and Stanisław Witkiewicz suggested in their theoretical writings that the problem of self- and national identity is the most burning issue in the times of the partitioning of Poland. According to Maurycy Mochnacki the main task the Poles had to accomplish in the new political context was to gain the awareness of their own identity ("uznanie się w jestestwie swoim"). Mochnacki used an old Polish phrase to stress the vital importance of appreciating one's cultural and historical heritage as well as gaining a sense of identity both individually and nationally.