From care for the soul to the theory of the state in Jan Patočka
This article sheds light on the relation between care for the soul and the political thought of Jan Patočka. Patočka often sketches a connection between care for the soul and a theory of the state, but he rarely elaborates this. The biographical fact of Patočka’s own political dissidence and his int...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2020]
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In: |
International journal of philosophy and theology
Year: 2020, Volume: 81, Issue: 3, Pages: 196-210 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Patočka, Jan 1907-1977
/ Soul
/ Care
/ Theory of the state
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RelBib Classification: | TK Recent history VA Philosophy ZC Politics in general |
Further subjects: | B
Jan Patočka
B Phenomenology B State B Metaphysics B Politics B Care |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
Summary: | This article sheds light on the relation between care for the soul and the political thought of Jan Patočka. Patočka often sketches a connection between care for the soul and a theory of the state, but he rarely elaborates this. The biographical fact of Patočka’s own political dissidence and his interpretation of care for the soul as a distancing from traditional structures of society have caused many to look at Patočka’s political thought mainly through the lens of political resistance. Such interpretations are definitely warranted, but can overlook the moments in his work that point towards a theory of the state. While these are only indications, this article presents a way to develop these moments. It will do so on the basis of the idea that the theory of the state should not be based directly on care for the soul itself, but on its founding principle of problematicity. The stronger, perhaps more metaphysical, interpretation of problematicity that is argued for here both opens the space of the political and sets strict boundaries to it and as such should be the founding principle of any state that wishes to uphold this space. |
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ISSN: | 2169-2335 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal of philosophy and theology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/21692327.2020.1716832 |