Paper short abstract:

A view on the history and current state of the art of Polish anthropology seen in a comparative perspective is given. This case study illustrates the point that in contemporary accounts of the discipline's history not only the "objective" findings' quality but also ethical engagement is decisive.

Paper long abstract:

A view on the history and current state of the art of Polish anthropology seen in a comparative perspective is offered. This case study illustrates a point that in present-day accounts of the discipline's trajectories several factors are taken into account - research quality, intellectual affinities, conceptual meanings as well as hegemonic relationships between various traditions. It is argued that in contemporary rendition of these past interdependencies qualities such as cosmopolitan character of anthropological endeavour, universal importance of local phenomena studied and ethical commitments of anthropologists have also become prominent. Importance of these qualities is related to the significance of anthropological involvement in the modern-day politicised world-view conflicts around xenophobia, racism, exclusions and various forms of social inequalities. Historically forged professional ethics urges anthropologists to make morally justified choices. Contemporary anthropological practice and responsibility affects anthropologists' accounts of anthropology's history that thanks to this dynamic procsees becomes engaged in the present, and possibly future, affairs.