Bloomsbury Academic The Selected Writings of Jan Patocka: Care for the Soul

Jan Patocka’scontribution 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. Review 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 About the Author 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.