Passing Through the World (as) Crisis

Abstract

In this chapter, I reconsider Patocka’s concept of the movement of existence in its contribution to understanding (the movement of) history. Having explained Patocka’s principal ideas regarding the history of the world and the role of Europe in its current crisis, I argue against Patocka’s drawing a firm line between a free, truly historic way of life, and unfree, earthbound living. Connecting Patocka’s historic and political reflections with his ontological thought, and paying special attention to the concept of polemos, I accept neither an onto-polemical nor a moral interpretation of his (political) philosophy. I do not question Patocka’s emphasis on freedom, but I call for thinking existence as being free, and historic, through each of its movements. On the basis of such a reinterpretation, Patocka’s concept provides a framework for understanding human being in the world, or its living through the world (as) crisis.