25/10/2021

English

Exploring the Underground Writings of Jan Patočka: Philosophy and the Experience of History

This is the second lecture of the series. “History is not intelligible without free responsibility.” This is one of Patočka’s many “heretical” convictions. It is in stark contrast to materialist theories of history (notably, the Marxist) that he asserts “the primacy of freedom” in history. And what is freedom for? “Freedom,” we read in his second essay, “is freedom for truth.” This is a startling conclusion. Yet it is because of this conclusion that Patočka links the origins of “history” to the origins of European philosophy – by which he means, in the first place, the thought of Socrates and his protégé Plato. On Patočka’s telling, history and philosophy are both quests for truth.

Danube Institute present

Exploring the Underground Writings
of
Jan Patočka:
Philosophy and the Experience of History

David L. Dusenbury pic..jpg

Lecture by Dr. David L. Dusenbury, Visiting Fellow at Danube Institute

Introduced by Dr. Calum T. M. Nicholson,
Visiting Fellow at Danube Institute

Date: October 25, 2021
 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Venue:  Scruton DOWNTOWN (1054 Budapest, Zoltán utca 10.)

 

Dr. David L. Dusenbury:

David is a Visiting Fellow at the Danube Institute. He obtained his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Leuven and held, most recently, a research fellowship at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His books include Platonic Legislations and The Innocence of Pontius Pilate. He has lectured widely in Europe on topics in philosophy, religion, law, and the history of ideas. His essays and criticism have appeared in The Times Literary Supplement, Corriere della Serra, American Affairs, and other cultural and political reviews.

Watch back other events

Danube Institute

 Office: Lónyay-Hatvany villa - 1015 Budapest, Csónak St. 1.

 Email: info@danubeinstitute.hu

 Press: press@danubeinstitute.hu