Jan Patočka

phenomenological philosophy today

Miroslav Petříček

pp. 3-6

in: Erika Abrams, Ivan Chvatík (eds), Jan Patočka and the heritage of phenomenology, Berlin, Springer, 2011

Abstract

The concept of "heresy" in Patočka's late texts is ambiguous and open to many interpretations. It could perhaps be explained in the context of phenomenology itself as a sort of drifting away from the original, Husserlian foundations towards a dynamic understanding of intentionality as including "operative concepts," i.e., shadows, blind spots, irreducible non-evidences, in its complex dynamics. This then highlights the phenomenological mode of thinking as a development of the critical attitude (qua care for the soul). Heresy means going beyond the limits of phenomenology as an act of fidelity and adherence to it.

Cited authors

Husserl Edmund

Patočka Jan