From an early age he showed an interest in psychology, philosophy, and the natural sciences, and studied works by Darwin, Taine, Ribot, and Comte.

He then went abroad, first to Leipzig, Germany, then to Zürich, Switzerland, and finally in 1885 to Paris, France, where most of the Polish Socialist émigrés in Europe lived.

In the same year he published an article entitled, W poszukiwaniu grodu Mendoga, dealing with where he believed the castle of King Mindaugas had been located.

After World War I he abandoned all political activity and focused on scientific research, intending to complete the works that he had never had the peace of mind or time to finish.

During World War II he was injured during the defence of Warsaw in September 1939, and the bomb that destroyed his apartment also caused the loss of most of his papers and manuscripts.