The Unity of Public Engagement and the Philosophy of Jan Patočka —Jan Patočka as a citizen and philosopher—

Abstract

In this article, I attempt to clarify concepts of the political, political and non-political politics in the life and work of Jan Patočka, primarily on the basis of an observation of the tensions between his civic and philosophical activities. Indeed, it’s proposed the question regarding how to reconcile the familiar, unwavering position (the conviction, “leadership”) of Charter 77 and its associated rock-solid outward stance (which Patočka, as its spokesperson not only held but which –also by means of his Charter texts– he co-created) with an affirmation of the problematic nature of human life and knowledge that is central to Patočka’s works. The only interpretation that could answer this question (even if it is not explicitly asked), states that Patočka’s fundamental affirmation “contain(s) a political theory of radical and agonistic democracy”, and identifies Patočka fully with this radical position. However, since Patočka’s principal (indeed thoroughly considered and consistently held) action was the activity of non-political politics, specifically his activity in the dissident initiative Charter 77, I must inquire as to whether it is possible to classify this acth it) as radical agonist democracy, and whether it is at all compatible with this. If not, then how are we to interpret the problematic nature of life within the context of stances of non-political politics, and how are we to keep the two together?