Humanities and Social Sciences

Kultura i Społeczeństwo

Content

Kultura i Społeczeństwo | 2025 | vol. 69 | No. 3

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Abstract

Recent years have seen a noticeable increase in reflection on the ethical aspects of research. While this trend is generally considered positive, it is not without its dangers, including the potential for over-institutionalization or bureaucratization of ethics, where sensitivity towards others becomes entangled in regulations, codes, or recommendations. Acknowledging both the benefits and drawbacks of this shift in the approach to scientific research, the author turns to the humanities from the perspective of oral history, referring to concepts such as imagination, empathy, and vulnerability. These qualities, the author believes, are key to ethical scientific practice, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, which by their very nature are (or should be) closely connected to people. He draws on his research on children born of war.
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Authors and Affiliations

Jakub Gałęziowski
1

  1. University of Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

The category of “vulnerability”appears increasingly often in the works of Polish researchers, but is translated and interpreted in a variety of ways. Some use the Polish-ised version of the English word, “wulnerabilność”, others the neologism “ranliwość”[a “tendency to get hurt” — translator’s note], others still write about susceptibility to injury, hurt, whereas there are some who leave the category under the original, English-language name. The author therefore argues that the problematization of this concept is important, revealing in what contexts and meanings it functions. The category of vulnerability is examined in relation to researchers, taking particular account of qualitative researchers. In methodological discourse, it is rare for attention to be turned to researchers and therefore to their susceptibility to getting hurt, which compels them to search for their own strategies of coping with a particularly demanding field of research, including vicarious trauma. This constitutes the author’s chief object of interest, although she realizes that vulnerability as an area reaches far beyond psychological aspects.
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Authors and Affiliations

Magdalena Szpunar
1

  1. University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Abstract

The aim of this article is to present the concept of vulnerability as a potential tool for the multidimensional analysis of social problems. The author begins by discussing the origins of scholarly reflection on vulnerability, its contemporary interpretations, and the criticisms associated with them. In response to the shortcomings of the concept, he proposes integrating it with the key premises of intersectionality theory, thereby enabling a more nuanced analysis of social problems, especially those directly related to the mental health crisis. The author then applies this theoretical framework to selected public policies designed to address these problems, pointing out their limitations and the need for better adaptation to the diverse needs of vulnerable groups. The article concludes with recommendations on using the concept of vulnerability to enhance the effectiveness of health and social policies, with particular emphasis on accounting for the complexity of social phenomena and the intersectional dimensions of vulnerability of individuals and groups.
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Authors and Affiliations

Paweł Szałkowski
1

  1. Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
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Abstract

The aim of the first part of this paper is to present the concept of narcocapitalism as an interpretive framework for the analysis of mass phenomena. The second part illustrates the application of this concept in an analysis of Polish society. Laurent de Sutter’s notion of narcocapitalism may be understood as describing a new mechanism of biopolitics, which no longer regulates the quality of life of the masses as Michel Foucault originally assumed, but rather their capacity to meet the demands of the capitalist system oriented toward production. Narcocapitalism does this by normalizing practices involving the use of anesthetic substances, which induce anhedonia, and stimulants, which aim to extend the limits of human productivity. In this way, stimulation and anesthesia, as self- -perpetuating mechanisms, permeate everyday life and form the mechanism of the new biopolitics analyzed by Nikolas Rose.
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Authors and Affiliations

Nikola Moskal
1

  1. Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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Abstract

This article presents the findings of a study on the presence of alcohol in the Polish theatre community. The analysis draws on selected data from the online survey Alcohol and Drugs in Polish Theatre, completed by 304 theatre employees. The study explores how often, under what circumstances, and for what reasons alcohol appears in professional and para-professional theatre contexts. The findings, first published in the report Alcohol in Polish Theatre. Research Report, are here elaborated and set within a theoretical framework. The interpretive perspective is informed by Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus and Andrzej Siciński’s concept of lifestyle, which frame alcohol consumption as a social practice embedded in the norms and relationships of the theatre milieu. On the one hand, this practice is part of the artistic ethos and the rituals accompanying creative work; on the other, it serves as an instrument of informal pressure, where refusal to participate may lead to marginalization and loss of social capital. The analysis shows that alcohol functions both as a means of integration and celebration in theatre life and as a factor the fosters exclusion.
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Authors and Affiliations

Bogna Kietlińska-Radwańska
1
Monika Kwaśniewska
2
Katarzyna Waligóra
2

  1. University of Warsaw, Poland
  2. Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland
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Abstract

The article analyzes tombstones from the animal cemetery in Bytom, addressing issues of speciesism, zoonyms, epitaphs, and the intermingling of the sacred and the profane in relation to the death of nonhuman creatures. The analysis of cat and dog tombstones confirms that owners of domesticated animals form strong emotional bonds with them and feel the need to enact funeral rituals after their death. Empirical studies have shown that animal cemeteries are places that, while countering speciesism, do not overcome anthropocentrism. The owners of deceased cats and dogs oppose the exclusion of these species from the sphere of memory and the sacred, yet at the same time emphasize interspecies differences, often inadvertently undermining the subjectivity of the buried animals. The collected research material also prompts reflection on the possible future development of animal cemeteries.
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Authors and Affiliations

Sylwia Kwaśniewska
1

  1. University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Abstract

The study that the author conducted with his students was based on in-depth interviews and participant observation. It posed a series of questions concerning place, people, objects and interactions within the space of Warsaw’s flea market in the city’s Koło neighborhood. The goals of this research were (1) to capture the social specificity of this place and (2) to identify the functions that the market fulfills in the lives of the community that sustains it. A thesis that emerged during the study is that the more the vendor community idealizes its past, the less effectively it performs its integrative functions in the present. In other words, the more it is “imagined”and “suspended”in a lost past, the more detrimental this becomes for the community. The study focuses on the issue of nostalgia, which, although it partly unites the vendor community, is fundamentally dysfunctional for it.
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Authors and Affiliations

Mikołaj Rakusa-Suszczewski
1

  1. University of Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

The article provides an analysis of differences in the perception of original artworks and their digital reproductions in the context of the long-standing academic debate on the value of art reproductions. It presents various theoretical approaches to the issue and empirical findings, supplemented by the author’s own pilot study using eye-tracking technology. The experiment involved 39 young participants, who viewed two contemporary paintings—in a museum setting and as digital reproductions. The analysis revealed distinct viewing strategies depending on the presentation medium: exposure to the original prompted a more fluid and dispersed gaze, while the digital reproductions provoked a more schematic and focused mode of viewing. The study also confirmed higher aesthetic evaluations of works viewed in the museum, especially those regarded as more artistically valuable. These results indicate the need to account for the form of presentation in research on the reception of art.
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Authors and Affiliations

Dagna Kidoń
1

  1. Polish National Film School, Lodz, Poland
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Abstract

This paper examines the state of research on addictive technology, focusing on the design of such technology and on mitigation strategies. It offers three contributions: a review tracing the evolution of scholarly literature; conceptual foundations for understanding addictive techniques used in technology design; and a proposed framework for addressing this issue. Drawing on a systematic review of 42 studies from major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Google Scholar), the study applied quantitative analysis to investigate publication patterns and identify predominant themes in the literature. The analysis reveals growing academic interest in addictive technology, with keywords highlighting concerns about user experience and psychological health. Addictive technology is designed to capture and retain user attention through engaging content, personalized algorithms, and attention-grabbing mechanisms (such as notifications, variable rewards, illusion of control, and infinite social media feeds), fostering habit formation and, consequently, compulsive use. Mitigation solutions include technological design innovations, regulatory measures, user empowerment, and educational initiatives.
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Authors and Affiliations

Dorota Domalewska
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. War Studies University, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

This article examines the multifaceted experiences of Polish Muslims as they navigate belonging within both offline and online environments. Using data from a survey and semi-structured interviews, the study illustrates how issues of trust, religious identity, and social exclusion intersect in a predominantly Catholic society. The findings show that widespread skepticism toward Islam and negative media portrayals contribute to Polish Muslims’ heightened sense of caution and lower level of general trust in comparison to the broader population. Converts to Islam report additional pressures, particularly regarding cultural customs and familial ties, which can amplify feelings of marginalization. Within the Muslim community itself, ethnic, national, and denominational differences give rise to multiple religious organizations. Although they can foster solidarity, they also risk over-fragmenting the wider ummah. While online social media offer valuable spaces for initial exploration of Islam, they can also heighten intra-group tensions. Study participants describe the community as marked by “quarrelers”and rigid religious standards that discourage open, inclusive dialogue. Overall, the research suggests that Polish Muslims face “troubled belonging”on two fronts: external exclusion stemming from societal mistrust, and internal divisions resulting from diverse religious and cultural practices.
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Authors and Affiliations

Karolina Smołucha
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
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Abstract

This essay offers a philosophical analysis of the language of economics proposed by Andrzej Leder in the book Ekonomia to stan umysłu [Economy is a state of mind] (2023). It addresses the semantics of economic discourse and its cognitive and ethical consequences. Leder raises questions about the role of economics as a symbolic system that helps people manage excess and constructs a coherent image of the world, thereby granting economic reason dominance over the language of ethical relations. He proposes an original conceptual framework, rooted in Lacanian psychoanalysis, to interpret the causes of the 2008 financial crisis and the development of financial capitalism. The author of this essay undertakes a critical reconstruction of Leder’s central argument, while also pointing to the challenges that critical theory faces today in a world dominated by expert narratives.
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Authors and Affiliations

Barbara Markowska-Marczak
1

  1. Civitas University, Poland
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Abstract

The text is the author’s response to a review essay devoted to his book Ekonomia to stan umysłu [Economy is a state of mind] (2023). In the polemic the author stresses on three questions: the logical structure of the linguistic and economic sign, on the position of the author face to the postcolonial discourse and the question of the general meaning of the book and the task it fulfills.
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Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Leder
1

  1. Institute of Philosophy and Sociology PAS, Poland
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Abstract

With close reference to Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor’s book AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference (2024), the author of this essay examines how artificial intelligence functions today and how it is perceived, often with a considerable dose of techno-enthusiasm. He distinguishes between predictive and generative AI, and presents hypotheses on how AI may operate in future societies.
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Authors and Affiliations

Remigiusz Żulicki
1

  1. University of Lodz, Poland

Instructions for authors

1. „Kultura i Społeczeństwo” zamieszcza wyłącznie materiały uprzednio nie publikowane. Zakładamy, że proponując tekst autor deklaruje tym samym, iż jest to jego oryginalna, samodzielna praca. W uzasadnionych przypadkach w przypisie powinny znaleźć się informacje o genezie tekstu (np. że jest to fragment pracy magisterskiej, doktorskiej czy opracowania grantowego) oraz o ewentualnych promotorach czy współpracownikach.
2. Wszystkie materiały są oceniane przez co najmniej dwóch recenzentów z zachowaniem zasady anonimowości (double-blind review). Dlatego prosimy o przekazywanie tekstownie podpisanych i załączanie w oddzielnej kopercie (oznaczonej tytułem artykułu) nazwiska autora, adresu, maila oraz telefonu kontaktowego. Autorów prosimy też o podanie miejsca pracy, stanowiska służbowego i tytułu naukowego oraz adresu do ewentualnej korespondencji z czytelnikami.
3. Teksty — o objętości maksimum 1,5 ark. wyd. — należy składać pod adresem redakcji w dwóch egzemplarzach, wydrukowane z podwójną interlinią(wraz z zapisem elektronicznym).
4. Tablice i wykresy należy załączać na oddzielnych stronach, a w tekście jedynie zaznaczać przeznaczone dla nich miejsca.
5. Bibliografię prosimy sporządzać (w porządku alfabetycznym) według zasad stosowanych w naszym czasopiśmie:
Nowak Stefan, 1979, System wartości społeczeństwa polskiego, „Studia Socjologiczne”, nr 4.
Szacki Jerzy (red.), 1995a, Sto lat socjologii polskiej. Od Supińskiego do Szczepańskiego, PWN, Warszawa.
Szacki Jerzy, 1995b, Wstęp: krótka historia socjologii polskiej, w: Jerzy Szacki (red.), Sto lat socjologii polskiej. Od Supińskiego do Szczepańskiego, PWN, Warszawa.
Weber Max, 2002, Gospodarka i społeczeństwo. Zarys socjologii rozumiejącej, tłum. Dorota Lachowska, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.
Odniesienie w tekście ma wówczas postać (Weber 2002, s. 113).
Prosimy o niepodawanie adresów internetowych, dzięki którym dotarto do tekstów, lecz o umieszczanie w bibliografii opisu ich wersji pierwotnych.
6. W artykułach możliwe są oczywiście także przypisy treściowe (nie bibliograficzne), zamieszczone u dołu strony. W recenzjach preferujemy przypisy bibliograficzne w dołu strony, które mają wówczas postać:
J. Szacki, Historia myśli socjologicznej, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2002, s. 113.
J. Szacki, Historia myśli socjologicznej, cyt. wyd, s. 233. Tamże, s. 255.
7. Tych, którzy kierują swoją pracę do działów „Artykuły i rozprawy” i „Z warsztatów badawczych”, prosimy o dostarczenie jej streszczenia w języku polskim — ewentualnie także angielskim — (o objętości nie przekraczającej1000 znaków, liczonych ze spacjami) oraz o wyznaczenie słów kluczowych w obu językach.

Reviewers

RECENZENCI W 2021 ROKU

Monika Adamczyk, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski
Janusz Barański, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Piotr Binder, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Tadeusz Borutka, Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II
Anita Brzozowska, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Marta Bucholc, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Michał Buchowski, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Mariusz Czubaj, Uniwersytet SWPS
Wioleta Danilewicz, Uniersytet w Białymstoku
Marcin Dębnicki, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Rafał Drozdowski, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Danuta Duch-Krzystoszek, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej
Tomasz Ferenc, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Mirosław Filiciak, Uniwersytet SWPS
Piotr Filipkowski, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Monika Frąckowiak-Sochańska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Jacek Gądecki, Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie
Małgorzata Głowacka-Grajper, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Marek Gorzko, Akademia Pomorska w Słupsku
Małgorzata Jacyno, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Krzysztof Jasiecki, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Katarzyna Kajdanek, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Katarzyna Kalinowska, Instytut Badań Edukacyjnych
Jerzy Kałążny, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Antoni Z. Kamiński, Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Tomasz Kaźmierczak, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Kaja Kaźmierska, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Przemysław Kisiel, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie
Jerzy Kochanowski, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Joanna Konieczna-Sałamatin, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Maciej Kowalewski, Uniwersytet Szczeciński
Wiesława Kozek, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Natalia Krzyżanowska, Örebro University
Paweł Kubicki, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Wiktoria Kudela-Świątek, Uniwersytet Pedagogoczny im. KEN w Krakowie
Waldemar Kuligowski, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Anna Kwaśniewska, Uniwersytet Gdański
Marta Leśniakowska, Instytut Sztuki PAN
Wojciech Łukowski, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Mirosława Marody, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Piotr Mitzner, Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego
Andrzej Moskwin, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Dorota Mroczkowska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Adam Mrozowicki, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Janusz Mucha, emeritus
Natalia Niedźwiecka-Iwańczak, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Lech M. Nijakowski, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Przemysław Nosal, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Cezary Obracht-Prondzyński, Uniwersytet Gdański
Krzysztof Pietrowicz, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
Jakub Potulski, Uniwersytet Gdański
Ryszard Radzik, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej
Dorota Rancew-Sikora, Uniwersytet Gdański
Jerzy Rohoziński, Ośrodek Badań nad Totalitaryzmami Instytutu Pileckiego
Maja Sawicka, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Krystyna Skarżyńska, Uniwersytet SWPS
Marta Songin-Mokrzan, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Karina Stasiuk-Krajewska, Uniwersytet SWPS
Beata Szluz, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski
Magdalena Ślusarczyk, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Wojciech Świątkiewicz, Uniwersytet Śląski
Piotr Toczyski, Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im. Marii Grzegorzewskiej
Arkadiusz Tuziak, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski
Andrzej Waśkiewicz, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Ewelina Wejbert-Wąsiewicz, Uniwersytet Łódzki
Piotr Witek, Uniwersytet im. Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej
Cezary Włodarczyk, Uniwersytet Jagielloński
Anna Wylegała, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Katarzyna M. Wyrzykowska, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii PAN
Tomasz Zarycki, Uniwersytet Warszawski
Anna Ziembińska-Witek, Uniwersytet im. Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej
Magdalena Zowczak, Uniwersytet Warszawski

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