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.

Jan Patocka (1907-77) was a Czech philosopher. He specialised in phenomenonology and the philosophy of history and his works include Plato and Europe, which was a collection of his lectures and Heretical Essays in the Philosophy of History.

Introduction: 'Life in Balance, Life in Amplitude'

PART I: Being in the Word
Introduction
1. 'Natural World and Phenomenology'
2. 'Husserl's Subjectivism and the Necessity of an Asubjective Phenomenology'
3. 'What is Phenomenology?'
4. 'Cartesianism and Phenomenology'

PART II: Philosophy of History (Politics, Europe, Technology, and Living in Truth)
Introduction
5. 'Spiritual Foundations of Life in the Present Time'
6. 'The Oldest Systematic Doctrine of the Soul'
7. 'Comenius and the Open Soul'v) 'The Dangers of Technicization in Science according to E. Husserl and the Essence of Technology as Danger According to M. Heidegger'
8. 'The Spiritual Person and the Intellectual'
9. 'Intellectuals and Opposition'
10. 'The Scheme of History'
11. 'Masaryk's Philosophy of Religion'

PART III Art and Culture
Introduction
12. 'The Idea of Culture and its Contemporary Relevance'
13. 'Czech Culture in Europe'
14. 'Two Kinds of Reason, and Nature in German Enlightenment'
15. 'Ideology and the Life in the Idea'
16. 'Limping Pilgrim Joseph Capek'
17. 'Time, Myth, Faith'
18. 'Hegel's Doctrine about the Past Character of Art'
19. 'On Art and Time'
20. 'Time, Eternity and Temporality in the Work of K. H. Mácha'
21. 'Ivanov'
22. 'Truth of Myth in Sophocles' Dramas on Labdakians'
23. 'German Spirituality of Beethoven's Time'
24. 'Meaning of the Myth on the Pact with the Devil'
25. Afterword to Jaroslav Durych's The Rainbow of God

Conclusion