Our Origin Story as told by Charles Brown
The founding of the first International Society for Universalism–Later named International Society for Universal Dialogue–emerged at the dramatic moment of the opening of the Berlin Wall that had separated Eastern Germany from Western Germany within its traditional capital city. That historic act took place as international scholars from Asia, Europe, China, the Americas, and Africa were invited by Janusz Kucziński to a symposium held in Warsaw (1989) to discuss his vision for international philosophical research that would lead “a cooperative search for shared meaning and values”. [ Kuczyński, J. 1989 Dialogue and Universalism as a New Way of Thinking. The University of Warsaw, Philosophy of Peace Research Project, 62.]
Among our founding scholars, academics invited by Kucziński, was Charles Brown of Emporia University, Kansas. Brown recalls: “Kuczyński’s new form of universalism began with the recognition and reconciliation of antagonistic perspectives, ideologies, and schools of philosophy through a radically inclusive dialogue that offered resistance to the final discourses and pre-mature epistemic closure of previous modes of thinking. This form of universalism must be ‘open in order to sum up dialectically common values and be tolerant towards differentiated and antagonistic values.’ [ibid.] Kuczyński claimed that this new form of universalism begins in dialogue with pluralism--not to destroy or replace that pluralism but to give voice to the differences that define us…”. [Brown, C. First Impressions, Lasting Memories: As I Remember Dialogue and Universalism No. 2/2020]
Leading up to Poland’s ejection of communist rule, it “had been caught up in a great struggle between two opposing social institutions with universalist and hegemonic ideologies: Communism and Catholicism. Po prostu [Straight Talk, an anti-Stalinist journal dating to the 1950s and abolished in 1957] had accomplished the impossible and launched a productive and public dialogue between Marxism and Christianity, a dialogue in search of a common core of values from which to make commensurable discourse possible between Marxists and Christians.”[Ibid.]
For further historical background of these initial efforts, read the full article by Charles Brown in No. 2/2020 of the ISUD’s journal, Dialogue and Universalism, available with open access at ceeol.com, The Central and Eastern European Online Library.
Pawel Kuczynski: Artistic Videographer of ISUD
Pawel Kuczynski is the director and producer of many documentary and fiction films. He received his PhD from the prestigious Polish Films School in Lodz, Poland.
In 1991, Pawel began to systematically document the intellectual and moral ethos of the International Society for Universal Dialogue. His efforts to record the intellectual life of the society have produced a rich library documenting key moments of ISUD World Congresses as well as the deliberations, lectures, and interviews with society members. Through these intellectual and artistic efforts Pawel has established himself as ISUD’s “artistic videographer.”
His 2004 film, “Philosopher’s Paradise” focuses on his personal relationship with his father, Janusz Kuczynski, Founder of ISUD. His 2007 film, “Light Denied” blends documentary and fiction film while including a variety of ISUD members—both in personal interviews and as characters interacting with fictitious characters to elucidate the ideas of Frederick Nietzsche. His 2008 film “Phenomenology of Truth” also includes ISUD members. More details concerning Pawel’s work can be found at directing.com.
Pawel’s works in progress include a film tentatively titled as “Philosophical Friends, The Story of a Dream.” This film depicts the legacy of his father’s relationship with his friend and colleague Jens Jacobsen while re-counting two decades of ISUD efforts to present its vision of a more humane world through the activity of inter-cultural dialogue. Selected videos from his on-going project to document and highlight the promise and vision of the International Society for Universal Dialogue can be viewed on Pawel’s YouTube channel: Delos Films.