2019, Volume 15, Issue 1
A novel approach to counteraction of threats: Inspiration for all
Roman Maciej Kalina1, Bartłomiej Jan Barczyński2
1State University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz, Nowy Sącz, Poland
2Archives of Budo, Warsaw, Poland
Author for correspondence: Bartłomiej Jan Barczyński; Archives of Budo, Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Background and Study Aim: Since the World Health Organization announced the COVID-19 pandemic, the following words have become frequently used in public space, in information and social media programmes in particular: “struggle/fight”, “counteracting”, “defence”, “security” and their synonyms. They are both key words and empirical terms of agonology. The objective of this scientific essay is to generally reflect upon utilitarian and methodological prospects of using innovative agonology to counteract all threats to health and life from the micro scale (individual) to the macro scale (people en bloc).
Material and Methods: Using journalistic phraseology, we can say that “the entire world is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.” Returning to the precise language of science implies, perhaps, the most sensible question: do entities participating in this struggle possess sufficient knowledge about struggle in the most general sense?
Results: The authors of this scientific essay discuss the following issues: 1. A turning point or alternative to self-destruction. Important statements: Regardless of the fundamental purpose of Rudniański’s theory of non-armed struggle and theory of compromise, as well as the way he drafted it, there is no rational reason to believe that he could not have imagined that the world would face the following alternative in the near future: it is necessary either to act to save Earth from an invisible or visible enemy, or to deliberately fail to counteract such a situation. 2. Some methodological advantages of innovative agonology in complementing the counteraction of global threats. Important statements: Whether an opponent (enemy) that poses a threat is “invisible”, precisely identified or partially camouflaged, is not the most important point. The following issues are important when considered together: first, whether this opponent (enemy) is so strong that it really puts the survival of Earth and us at risk; second, whether saving Earth from it requires global mobilization, or whether specialized international organisations are sufficient; and third, whether people en bloc are able to change both the plan of action and its way of defeating this enemy at any time.
Conclusions: Wisdom leads to two sensible systemic recommendations: 1) theories, hypotheses, laws, rules, principles and methods of agonology, especially those formulated at a high level of generality, can become a highly effective source of inspiration for experts in each specific science and those dealing with crisis management in a complementary manner (cooperating but at the same time rejecting anger, disputes and selfish ambitions) to overcome this global threat while minimizing the inevitable losses; and 2) a return to the Solidarity ideals, perhaps in a slightly different global dimension, may translate into lasting human relations at different levels of social functioning, with the general rule being to selflessly share what everyone has: either money, knowledge, or distance support, etc.
Key words: agonology, COVID-19, defence, struggle, survival
