Jan Patoka and the Heritage of Phenomenology Centenary Papers [Hardcover]

Whereas for the wider public Jan Patocka is known mainly as a defender of human rights and one of the first spokespersons of Charter 77, who died in Prague several days after long interrogations by secret police of the Communist regime, the international philosophical community sees in him an important and inspiring thinker, who in an original way elaborated the great impulses of European thought  mainly Husserls phenomenology and Heideggers philosophy of existence. Patocka also reflected on history and the future of humanity in a globalized world and laid the foundations of an original philosophy of history. His work is a subject of lively philosophical discussion especially in French and German-speaking countries, and recently also in Spanish-speaking, in U.S.A., and in the Far East.

Scholars from around the world who are interested in the philosophy of Jan Patocka gathered in Prague to commemorate his centenary and the thirtieth anniversary of his death. The conference explored the significance of his work and its continuing influence on contemporary philosophy.

The volume presents selected papers from the conference in English language.

Ivan Chvat?k, Preface; V?clav Havel, Remembering Jan Patocka; Miroslav Petr?cek, Jan Patocka: Phenomenological Philosophy Today; Petr Pithart, Questioning as a Prerequisite for a Meaningful Protest; Martin Paloua, Jan Patockas Socratic Message for the 21st Century; Marc Crepon, Fear, Courage, Anger: the Socratic Lesson; Josef Moural (Prague): Time and Responsibility, Kwok-ying Lau, Patockas Concept of Europe: an Intercultural Consideration; Steven Crowell, Idealities of Nature: Jan Patocka on Reflection and the lD