Publicystyka lat1766–1768 wokół sprawy dysydenckiej

Abstrakt

Public Debates in1766–1768 Concerning the Problem of Dissenters The purpose of the article is to analyze the public discussion concerning the problem of dissenters in the years 1766–1768. The subject of this debate were the Russians’ demands from Warsaw to increase the religious and political rights of Protestants and Orthodox in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. On the basis of 50 texts, I try to determine what the requests of dissenters were. My aim is also to show which arguments were used by both sides of the debate to clarify their positions and how much they differed from those used in the previous discussions about dissenters. Another question I want to answer is what the level of tolerance proposed by the participants of the public discussion to Protestants and Orthodox was. Finally, I examine therole thatfaith andfreedom played intheanalyzed letters. In the summary, I point out the most important conclusions.