Polish Studies and the challenges of the modern world

The psychological and social consequences of the problems of the modern world, including the COVID-19 pandemic and wars, have influenced the development of a new approach to the individual, facing a sense of social isolation, exclusion and loneliness, in a world that is indistinct, impenetrable, and requires the creation of new meanings. The elderly and the disabled – but also young – are particularly vulnerable to loneliness. This is accompanied by an increase in ecological consciousness and the development of a new approach to nature (such as the ecological disaster on the Oder river in 2022), as well as a deeper reflection on the removal of technological and architectural barriers. Using the available research resources of humanities and the diagnoses they have already made allows us to look for answers to these contemporary problems by focusing on human subjectivity and individuality, on regaining bonds, interpersonal contacts and a sense of identity, as well as on respecting the principles of open access and inclusiveness in the surrounding world.