The Selected Writings of Jan Patocka

For Patocka, — writes Erin Plunkett, in her introduction to The Selected Writings of Jan Patocka: Care for the Soul — philosophy is always an activity oriented toward the urgent question of how to live in the world with others”. This long-awaited publication provides English readers with new, priceless materials to tackle this question. Following the evolution of Patocka’s philosophical reflections, from his early texts to his phenomenological analyses and his writings on arts and culture, this book not only reveals the philosopher's erudition, but also sheds new light on his sophisticated worldview. Particular credit is due to the work of the translator which, given the difficulty of the texts, was commendable. * Francesco Tava, Associate Professor in Philosophy, UWE Bristol, UK *
Jan Patocka's thinking has long exercised a subterranean influence on late 20th-century philosophers and intellectuals struggling with understanding the human condition in the modern world. With a unique blend of phenomenology, retrieval of Platonic and Aristotelian motifs, and Eastern European literary and philosophical sources, Patocka's writings are exceptional for both their originality and non-conformity with respect to established traditions of thought. This significant collection of Patocka's writings in English is sure to draw much needed attention to a philosopher whose commitment to 'care of the soul' and 'life in truth' -- the hallmarks of a philosophical life and the life of philosophy itself -- in an age where living in relation to the world in truth has become ever so precarious. * Nicolas De Warren, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Studies at the Pennsylvania State University, USA *