Evolution and Revolution: The Sacred Transformation and the Ethics of Responsibility

This article provides an in-depth analysis of two fundamental modes of transformation of political systems: violent revolution and gradual evolution. Drawing on the work of Bogusław Wolniewicz, the author argues that the difference between them often boils down to the pace of change, not its substance. The text explores the concepts of sacred transformation and mysterium tremendum that accompany revolutionary uprisings, contrasting them with Max Weber's ethics of responsibility. The analysis includes references to the English model, based on a system of checks and balances, and the French model. The reader will learn how Popper's partial engineering and the mechanisms of institutional stability influence the durability of the state. This study examines the technology of power, the role of myth in politics, and the necessity of maintaining an ethical compass in times of major social upheaval.