- 29 June 2016
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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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