Studies in Phenomenology



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TRUTH, RESPONSIBILITY AND THE POLITICAL.
JAN PATOČKA’S VIEW ON LIVING IN TRUTH

Title in the language of publication: TRUTH, RESPONSIBILITY AND THE POLITICAL.
JAN PATOČKA’S VIEW ON LIVING IN TRUTH
Author: Wing-Keung Chik
Issue: HORIZON. Studies in Phenomenology.
Vol. 5, №1 (2016),  90-114
Language: English
Document type: Research Article
DOI : 10.18199/2226-5260-2016-5-1-90-114 PDF (Downloads: 3282)

Abstract
Being one of the spokespersons of the civic manifestos Charta 77, Czech Philosopher Jan Patočka (1907– 1977) passed away after repeating interrogation. For human dignity, Patočka stands himself in truth in front of violence. What is the origin of responsibility which resists injustice? What is the significance of living in truth for being confronted with violence? In the text of Charta 77 «The Obligation to Resist Injustice» (1977), Patočka points out that morality of humanity is the ground of obligation. Then, what is the relationship between humanity and moral obligation? Regarding to the question above, this paper attempts to investigate the relationship of responsibility and living in truth, and demonstrates that there is an ontological responsibility of insistence implicated in living in truth, through illustrating the structure of manifestation of problematization. Socratic care of soul is the practice of familiarizing citizens with problematization through reflective dialogue as pluralization of otherness (doxai) of others. Otherness unveiled is the beginning of thinking and of the formation of polis. At last, with the analysis of worldliness of world as manifestation of plurality, the article will show that the responsibility of living in truth, as responding to plurality of world and realizes problematization which reforms community as polis with liberation and unity, is philosophical-political revolutionary.

Key words
Care of the soul, problematization, responsibility, Arendt, otherness, dialogue, thinking, polis, pluralization.

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