The brave struggle: Jan Patočka on Europe’s past and future

Tava, Francesco

Abstract

© 2016 The British Society for Phenomenology. This article proposes to investigate Jan Patočka’s idea of “postEurope”, in the context of his understanding of European contemporary history. Therefore, I first stress how important it is for Patočka to conceive a “post-European perspective”, i.e. a peculiar insight into historical problems and conflicts that would allow humanity to find a possible path out of the condition that characterizes the twentieth century. Second, I focus on the existential figure that, according to Patočka, is capable of engendering this perspective, and whose fundamental traits are equality, detachment, openness and courage. Thus, I consider Husserl’s idea of Europe, Arendt’s concept of the political and Bergson’s concept of the open soul as fundamental references for Patočka’s reconstruction. I conclude by showing how Patočka’s ethical stance on Europe and post-Europe can also be meaningful in light of the current European economic and political crisis.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 16, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 30, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 30, 2018
• Journal: Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology
• Print ISSN: 0007-1773
• Electronic ISSN: 2332-0486
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 242-259
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071773.2016.1180854
• Keywords: Europe, civilisation, equality, detachment, openness, courage
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/923817
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071773.2016.1180854
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology on 16 June 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00071773.2016.1180854
• Contract Date: Jan 30, 2018