In this paper, I explore Jan Patoĉka’s enigmatic thesis that the the Platonic idealof care for the soul. constitutes the essence of Europe According to Patoĉka’s reading,Plato’s philosophy, in contrast to that of Democritus, is concerned first and foremost with care for the soul, and only secondarily with ontology. Referring to Phaedo andPhilebus, I show how Patoĉka’s thesis fits well with Plato’s own understanding ofhis doctrine of ideas. I then show how this formula can be used to understand both Patoĉka’s (...) critique of European modernity, and his engagement in Charta 77,as a heretical philosophy of history. (shrink)

The main claim of this article is that the plasticity of the human formation process does not consist in receiving passively an already-given shape, like hot wax stamped by a seal. Rather, it creates ever new shapes and makes a person overcome her own self-referential horizon. Furthermore, I argue that this formation process is directed by desire, meant as “hunger for being born completely” (Zambrano). The human being comes into the world without being born completely, and it is precisely such (...) hunger that directs human positioning into the world. (shrink)