From Patočka’s Reflections on Post-Europe to Christianity after Christianity

• In Event: Heretical Integrity: Jan Patočka’s Philosophical Transgressions

Abstract

Were we to describe Jan Patočka’s thought, the notion of transgression, or the tendency of constant 'pointing beyond itself,' would fit the discourse adequately. This paper will focus on two provocative transgressions: the first concerns the idea of Europe and the second refers to the religion of Europe, that is, Christianity.
In his late work 'Europe and Post-Europe', Patočka raises the question about the principle of the European spiritual heritage and its destiny. According to Patočka, Europe belongs to the past. It has lost the position as one of the world powers. However, post-Europe can also refer to (and here we engage with the first transgression in Patočka) the inherent principle of Europe which consists in pointing beyond itself. In this sense, Europe is not only an area and tradition but an idea and a specific movement of the spirit.
This brings us to the second transgression. For Patočka, a Post-European is also a Post-Christian age. The meaning is clear on the basis of historical-sociological analysis: Christendom ceased to be the widely-shared framework of interpreting our being-in-the-world. Philosophically, however, Patočka instead indicates that the situation after Christianity challenges us to find the fundament of the Christian identity in a continual pointing beyond itself. The essence of Christianity lies in its coming and incompleteness. This paper argues that Patočka’s transgressions with regard to Europe and Christianity are inter-related concepts and that a Post-European epoch is a space for bringing about a (heretical) Christianity after Christianity.

Author

• Martin Koci, Charles U in Prague (Czech Republic)