The article deals with the problem of parameterisation in social sciences and humanities. Questioning the accuracy (and, most of all, the effectiveness) of strictly qualitative assessment of previous publication activity (expert assessments) leads to a concentration on quantitative criteria made as objective as possible; the most important of these criteria is based not on publication, but on quotability, which is considered to reflect the reception of the works of a given researcher. On the basis of indicators applied to a representative sample of professors from the fields of sociology and pedagogy, an analysis of publication record and its influence on science was made with the use of quotability (in the framework of Google Scholar database), and the result was subsequently compared to the results of Professor dr hab. Ryszard Borowicz (recognized in both fields).

The dominant paradigm for a number of decades of neo-liberal economy has not signifi cantly weakened even times of economic crises referred to as the largest since the Great Depression. Moreover, for a long time we were witnessing the moving logic of economic activities to other spheres of social life. The process of marketization of the public sphere is constantly progressing. It should, therefore, take the debate over its reach and impact on the functioning of the community. We need to ask yourself a number of questions, the answers to which will be crucial for our life as a community. These questions about the moral, ethical and social boundaries of the market put in a rather provocative way Michael Sandel. Adopting a broader debate over them is essential, because the important aspects of our existence both in terms of individual and as a community will really on that. Does the knowledge, information, our body, clean air, access to education, to health care are goods? Are they subject to the rules of supply and demand? Is the market mechanism the best way to distribute them? Is there a legitimate way? Answers to these questions should not be limited to the discourse of the efficiency measure, which sometimes seems to dominate public discourse and especially political. This discourse should be conducted in relation to the concept of social justice and equality as marketization processes inevitably lead to the emergence of new dividing lines and the growing social inequality. This current refl ection on society was constantly present in publications of Richard Borowicz. These questions he asked yourself and his readers for a long time. It is a pity, that now he is not able to participate directly in this discourse.

The aim of this article to reconstruction the vision of the young scientist in humanities (characteristics, competences, optimal progress requirements) written by Ryszard Borowicz based on available references and historical sources. This is the first research to focus this vision has not been noted anywhere through the R. Borowicz’s books and articles. It presents the results of a research based on historical method allowing to combine all the data from different sources from content analysis to delthi technique.

The article is devoted to Professor Ryszard Borowicz, his research and critical analysis of the changes taking place in the Polish higher education. Ryszard Borowicz was their researcher, witness and participant, as well as, in many aspects, also their co-author, fulfilling many political, management and social functions in that period. The article aims to analyze the transformation of the Polish higher education from the point of view of Borowicz’s critical position, whose research interests were centred on revealing hidden forms of inequality in access to education. The analysis presented in this article is concentrated on the three most import_ant processes: (a) massification of higher education, (b) marketisation of higher education and (c) demographic decline as the most import_ant factors influencing the availability and quality of the education offered by the Polish higher education institutions. The text contains references to a large number of disputes and debates that I had with Professor Ryszard Borowicz throughout the past decade, for which unfortunately I did not manage to thank him.

The article is an attempt to take a scientific controversy with one of the many valuable scientific texts written by professor Ryszard Borowicz. The article is an attempt to take a scientific controversy with one of the many valuable scientific texts written by professor Ryszard Borowicz, the eminent sociologist and educator. Posed by Professor Borowicz thesis in the analyzed text on some of the consequences spread of higher education in Poland are inspiring a deep and thorough analysis of the current condition of higher education, with particular emphasis on non-public education. Reference was made to selected parts of the article of Professor Ryszard Borowicz indicating that professor rigorous evaluation can only be some problems recognizing of the higher education in Poland from only one perspective.