Leszek Kołakowski Rank
About Leszek Kołakowski
The Polish-born philosopher and one-time communist Leszek Kołakowski, who died in 2009, grasped the true character of communism in practice better than most.
Early Life
The philosopher was raised by Jerzy Julian Kołakowski. He graduated from the Łódź University with a degree in philosophy. He then earned a Ph.D. at Warsaw University in 1953.
Career
Kolakowski joined the Polish United Workers' Party from 1947 to 1966. During that time, he became a strong believer in Stalinism and propagated the freedom of will concept. He also wrote numerous novels which played an important role in shaping the Polish intellectual opposition.
Personal Life
The philosopher was married to Tamara Dynenson from 1949 to 2009
Trivia
In 1968, Kolakowski was practically banished from Poland due to his criticism of Marxism and the Communist political system. The philosopher spent the majority of the rest of his career at All Souls College, Oxford. Despite being in exile, Kolakowski was a major influence on the Solidarity movement that grew in Poland in the 1980s and contributed to the Soviet Union's demise.
Awards
He received the MacArthur Fellowship and the Erasmus Prize in 1983, the Kluge Prize in 2003, and the Jerusalem Prize in 2007.
Leszek Kołakowski Rank
F.A.Q. about Leszek Kołakowski
When is his birthday?
Leszek Kołakowski's birthday is on October 23, 1927.
In how many days is his birthday?
Leszek's birthday is in 190 days
How old was Leszek when he died?
He was 81 years old.
When did he die?
He died in July 17, 2009.
How old would he be today?
Leszek Kołakowski would be 96 years old if he was alive today.
Where was Leszek from?
He was born in Radom, Poland.