The Role of Passion Combined with the Mission to Protect Humanity Reflected in the Memoirs of Ludwik Hirszfeld
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the analysis is to illustrate the importance of Ludwig Hirszfeld’s scientific and research passion combined with his mission to protect humanity. The topic is explored in a specific historical context, which has educational value.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The central problem of this study is the question of what is the significance of an individual who, despite the most difficult experiences, is able to overcome fear and act to protect the dignity of people subjected to dehumanization. The research methodology used was memory studies.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article discusses facts, mainly related to the time of World War II, including selected contexts from the biography of Ludwig Hirszfeld, who took on the mission of conquering hatred and contempt towards the victims of the German Nazis.
RESEARCH RESULTS: History education, along with learning about the memories of Holocaust victims, helps younger generations understand the importance of the mission to protect those at risk of losing their human rights.
CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Learning about those who opposed the German Nazis, and others who defended the dignity of every human being should be a subject of education for young people. This knowledge can make younger generations aware of the important role individuals can play in protecting life, which is the highest value.
References
Bauman, Z. (1996). Etyka ponowoczesna [Postmodern ethics] (J. Bauman & J. Tokarska-Bakir, Trans.). Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
Benendo-Kapuścińska, B. (2017). Wspomnienie wygłoszone w Warszawie 11.05.2004 na Sympozjum poświęconym pamięci prof. L. Hirszfelda w 50. rocznicę śmierci [Remembrance speech delivered in Warsaw 11 May 2004 at the Symposium dedicated to the memory of Prof. L. Hirszfeld on the 50th anniversary of his death].
Chmielewska-Jakubowicz, M.B. (1998). Drugi szpital dziecięcy w Warszawie [„Second Children Hospital at Warsaw”]. Pamiętnik Towarzystwa Lekarskiego Warszawskiego, 136(2), 7–36.
Czerniaków, A. (1983). Adama Czerniakowa dziennik getta warszawskiego 6 IX 1939 – 23 VII 1942 [Adam Czerniakow’s diary of the Warsaw ghetto September 6, 1939 – July 23, 1942]. Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.
Czerwiński, M., & Glensk, U. (2019). “Mikroskopów nie trzyma się w szafie” – o dokonaniach Ludwika Hirszfelda [“Microscopes should not be kept in the closet”: On the achievements of Ludwig Hirszfeld]. Kosmos. Problemy Nauk Biologicznych, 68(2), 145–156.
Deci, E.L., & Ryan, R.M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Eliot, T.S. (1969). The complete pomes and plays of T.S. Eliot. Faber & Faber.
Esch, T., & Stefano, G.B. (2004). The neurobiology of pleasure, reward processes, addiction and their health implications. Neuro Endocrinology Letters, 25(4), 235–251.
FRA. (2011). Human rights education at Holocaust memorial sites across the European Union: An overview of practices. FRA – European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. https://isp.policja.pl/download/12/4169/zalacznik2.pdf
Gebert, K. (2023). Dlaczego zapominamy o Zagładzie [Why we are forgetting the Holocaust]. Kultura Liberalna, 5(734). https://kulturaliberalna.pl/2023/02/01/gebert-dlaczego-zapominamy-o-zagladzie/
Górski, A. (2012). Ludwik Hirszfeld (1884–1954). PAUza Akademicka, 4(174), 1–2.
Hirszfeld, L. (1967). Historia jednego życia [Story of one life]. Pax.
Jasch, H.-Ch. (2013). Behördliche Abstimmung zur Vorbereitung von Deportation und Völkermord. Zur Rolle des Vertreters des Reichsministeriums des Innern Dr. Wilhelm Stuckart. In N. Kampe & P. Klein (Eds.), Die Wannsee-Konferenz am 20. Januar 1942. Dokumente, Forschungsstand, Kontroversen (pp. 276–302). Böhlau Verlag.
Kozuschek, W. (2005). Ludwik Hirszfeld (1884–1854). Rys życia i działalność naukowa. [Ludwig Hirszfeld (1884–1854): Life and scientific activity]. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego.
Ringelblum, E. (2018). Pisma Emanuela Ringlebluma z getta [Emanuel Ringleblum’s writings from the ghetto] (by A. Rutkowski, A. Konrad, J. Nalewajko-Kulikov & M. Siek, Trans.). Żydowski Instytut Historyczny.
Vallerand, R.J. (2012). From motivation to passion: In search of the motivational processes involved in a meaningful fife. Canadian Psychology, 53(1), 42–52.
Wargacki, S.A. (2015). Socjologia zła [Sociology of evil]. In J. Mariański (Ed.), Leksykon socjologii moralności. Podstawy, teorie, badania, perspektywy [Lexicon of the sociology of morality. Basics, theories and research-perspectives] (pp. 758–761). Zakład Wydawniczy Nomos.
Wieczorek, P. (2021, September 27). Żydzi i mechesi [Jews and converts]. Muzeum Getta Warszawskiego. https://1943.pl/artykul/zydzi-i-mechesi/
Copyright (c) 2023 HORIZONS OF EDUCATION
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright to their work while granting the journal the right of first publication. The work will be simultaneously licensed under a CC BY-ND license, which permits others to share the work with proper credit given to the author and the original publication in this journal.
- Authors may enter into additional, non-exclusive agreements for the distribution of the published version of the work (e.g., posting it in an institutional repository or publishing it in another journal), provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged.
We allow and encourage authors to share their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on personal websites) both before and during the submission process, as this can foster beneficial exchanges and lead to earlier and increased citations of the published work. (See The Effect of Open Access). We recommend using any of the following academic networking platforms:
