Jan Patocka’s contribution to phenomenology and
the philosophy of history mean that he is considered one of the most important philosophers of the
20th century. Yet, his writing is not widely available in English and the
Anglophone world remains rather unfamiliar with his work. In this new book of
essential Patocka texts, of which the majority have been translated from the
original Czech for the first time, readers will experience a general
introduction to the key tenets of his philosophy. This includes his thoughts
on the relationship between philosophy and political engagement which strike at
the heart of contemporary debates about freedom, political participation and
responsibility and a truly pressing issue for modern Europe, what exactly
constitutes a European identity? In this important collection, Patocka provides
an original vision of the relationship between self, world, and history that
will benefit students, philosophers and those who are interested in the
ideals that underpin our democracies.