Introduction: Youth as a Task, Not a Privilege
In Western culture, youth has become a kind of secular religion, fueled by marketing and the fear of aging. This article deconstructs this myth, analyzing youth not as a biological merit, but as a fundamental ethical and social task. We will examine the philosophical perspectives of Leszek Kołakowski, sociological concepts of generation, and the barriers that Polish partiocracy places before young people. You will learn how to transform the energy of "unfinishedness" into a tool for real social change.
Kołakowski: Youth as Resistance to the Sclerosis of Ideas
For Leszek Kołakowski, the essence of youth is the reality of unfinishedness—a state in which everything remains open and unchosen. The philosopher warns against treating youth as a trophy; it is rather a gift of biology associated with "inevitable stupidity"—a lack of analytical paralysis that allows history to be pushed forward. This lack of cynicism is crucial for the renewal of ideas.
Global models of youth differ significantly: the West emphasizes autonomy and rebellion, while East Asia sees it as a time of rigorous apprenticeship and discipline. The African philosophy of Ubuntu ("I am because we are") reminds us that youth is a link in a multi-generational community. Great religions—from Judaism to Buddhism—agree: youth is not a vacation from life, but a time for a spiritual foundation and responsibility for one's actions.
The Psychosociology of a Generation: A Shared Fate and Values
Sociology (Karl Mannheim) defines a generation as a generational unit linked by a shared historical and market horizon. Psychology (Erik Erikson), in turn, perceives this stage as a natural identity crisis—a developmental clash between imposed roles and the need for authenticity. It is a time for forming attitudes, where a lack of experience can be an advantage, protecting against the "weariness" typical of adults.
In this context, the stupidity of youth proves more valuable than the cynicism of adults. While older people often get bogged down in routine and nepotism, the young bring energy capable of launching new ideologies. The key role of institutions is to provide space for mistakes and critical education that, instead of training for obedience, teaches independent thinking and cooperation.
The Anti-Aging Market: Monetizing the Fear of Passing Time
The modern economic system cynically converts youth into "image capital." The global anti-aging market, worth nearly $67 billion, preys on the fear of losing attractiveness. Meanwhile, in Poland, young people collide with a brutal partiocracy that treats them as a reserve electorate. Systemic barriers, such as test-oriented schooling, exploitation in the labor market (unpaid internships), and the housing crisis, turn youth into a prolonged childhood trapped in debt.
To regain agency, young people need real tools for participation: local governments with actual budgets, universities that respond to real problems, and a state based on transparent rules of the game. Youth does not need an ideological umbrella, but a "sidewalk without potholes"—fair institutions that do not waste their energy on bypassing systemic traps.
Summary: Youth as a Task
Youth is not a treasure to be buried, but a tool to be used—it can cut through the bonds of routine and established patterns. When it ceases to be a marketing idol, it becomes an ethical commitment to learning, practicing good, and taking responsibility for tomorrow. Will we dare to hand over agency to those who are just learning how to use it, trusting that their freshness will bring more good than our caution? Youth is a movement that knows its reasons and grows up without giving up its insatiable curiosity about the world.
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