Introduction: Axiology and Ethics as the Foundation of Community
Modern societies are facing a profound crisis of trust that undermines the very foundations of the state. Axiology, the study of what we deem valuable, serves as the bedrock upon which ethics builds the architecture of our daily decisions. Józef Tischner reminded us that truth reveals reality, while freedom opens the path for values to enter the inner self. Without them, a community degenerates into a system of lies which, according to Hannah Arendt, paralyzes the citizens' ability to judge reality and destroys the common world.
Global Dialogue: From Confucianism to Ubuntu Philosophy
Values are not the exclusive domain of the West. Eastern traditions, such as Confucianism and Buddhism, are rooted in cultures of shame and harmony, where losing face is a communal tragedy. Monotheistic religions contribute the sacralization of life and a source of justice: Judaism emphasizes the infinite value of the individual, while Islam views the human being as a responsible steward (caliph) of common goods. This global alphabet of values is completed by the African Ubuntu ("I am because you are") and Latin American liberation theology, both of which emphasize structural justice and the inseparable bond between the individual and the group.
The Ethics of Responsibility and Capability Theory
Max Weber defined the fundamental rift between the ethics of conviction (purity of intention) and the ethics of responsibility (calculation of consequences). In a modern state, the latter is essential to prevent politics from devolving into empty moralizing. Contemporary development economics, represented by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, shifts the focus toward the capability approach. Here, justice is measured by the real opportunity to lead a dignified life, and the state budget becomes the most important ethical document. At the center of this framework stands personalism, which recognizes the dignity of the person as an inviolable value that transcends all systems.
Digital Pathologies and the Infrastructure of Values
The Polish public sphere is being consumed by resentment and moralism—a theater of virtue that replaces genuine ethics with tribal warfare. The situation is exacerbated by algorithms and technopoly, which redefine values by prioritizing "engagement" over truth. To counter this, we must build an infrastructure of values. Schools must become laboratories of character, the media must serve as a space for verification, and business must operate as a sphere of transparency. Crucially, we must strengthen the "axiological self"—the internal compass that enables a heroic stance in defense of truth against systemic falsehood.
Summary: Trust as Capital for Development
Repairing the state requires the implementation of concrete rules of public ethics: transparency in lobbying, procedural justice, and the primacy of truth over narrative. We must understand that trust is the most cost-effective infrastructure for social development; it lowers the cost of state operations and unleashes innovation. Instead of building a "state of cunning" based on cardboard facades, we must return to solid axiological foundations. Only an ethics of responsibility and respect for the dignity of every citizen will allow us to create a lasting community that is resilient to crises.
📄 Full analysis available in PDF