<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>In his two works from the 1970s, Patočka proposes a very personal way that the spiritual crisis, which manifests itself as a techno-scientific reality of <italic>Gestell,</italic> can be overcome. Patočka argues that the only way to escape spiritual decline is through sacrifice. This study examines how the ethical is represented in Patočka’s philosophy. It focuses on his two main concepts of sacrifice and care for the soul and explores the relationship between them. Through a close reading of <italic>Plato and Europe</italic> (1973), ‘Four Seminars’ (1973), and his essay ‘The dangers of technicization’ (1973), this study reveals how Patočka proposes that the ethical can be implemented within the realm of the political. Drawing a parallel between Socrates’ and Patočka’s lives and fates, this study points to the significance of ethics in political life – both in the ancient Greek polis of Socrates’ time and in communist Czechoslovakia in Patočka’s time. This approach highlights the influence that the philosophy of Socrates had on Patočka’s thinking.</p>
</abstract>

In his two works from the 1970s, Patočka proposes a very personal way that the spiritual crisis, which manifests itself as a techno-scientific reality of Gestell, can be overcome. Patočka argues that the only way to escape spiritual decline is through sacrifice. This study examines how the ethical is represented in Patočka’s philosophy. It focuses on his two main concepts of sacrifice and care for the soul and explores the relationship between them. Through a close reading of Plato and Europe (1973), ‘Four Seminars’ (1973), and his essay ‘The dangers of technicization’ (1973), this study reveals how Patočka proposes that the ethical can be implemented within the realm of the political. Drawing a parallel between Socrates’ and Patočka’s lives and fates, this study points to the significance of ethics in political life – both in the ancient Greek polis of Socrates’ time and in communist Czechoslovakia in Patočka’s time. This approach highlights the influence that the philosophy of Socrates had on Patočka’s thinking.

The ethical in Jan Patočka’s thought: Sacrifice and care for the soul

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The ethical in Jan Patočka\u2019s thought: Sacrifice and care for the soul"}

In his two works from the 1970s, Patočka proposes a very personal way that the spiritual crisis, which manifests itself as a techno-scientific reality of...

The ethical in Jan Patočka’s thought: Sacrifice and care for the soul

Published Online: Jun 18, 2022

Page range: 1 - 12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2022-0002

Keywords
sacrifice, care for the soul, the ethical, Socrates, polis

© 2022 Michaela Belejkanicova, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The ethical in Jan Patočka’s thought: Sacrifice and care for the soul

Published Online: Jun 18, 2022

Page range: 1 - 12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2022-0002

Keywordssacrifice, care for the soul, the ethical, Socrates, polis

© 2022 Michaela Belejkanicova, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
sacrifice, care for the soul, the ethical, Socrates, polis