The philosophy and politics of Czech dissidence from Patočka to Havel / Aviezer Tucker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tucker, Aviezer, 1965- author.

Series:

Series in Russian and East European studies.

Pitt series in Russian and East European studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Dissenters--Czechoslovakia.

Dissenters.

Philosophy, Czech--20th century.

Philosophy, Czech.

Czechoslovakia--Politics and government--1968-1989.

Czechoslovakia.

Czech Republic--Politics and government--1993-.

Czech Republic.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (310 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Pittsburgh : University of Pittsburgh Press, [2000]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Winner of the Foundations of Political Theory First Book Prize Honorable Mention, 2001Theory meets practice in The Philosophy and Politics of Czech Dissidence from Patocka to Havel, a critical study of the philosophy and political practice of the Czech dissident movement Charter 77. Aviezer Tucker examines how the political philosophy of Jan Patocka (1907-1977), founder of Charter 77, influenced the thinking and political leadership of Vaclav Havel as dissident and president. The Philosophy and Politics of Czech Dissidence from Patocka to Havel is the first serious treatment of Havel as philosopher and Patocka as a political thinker. Through the Charter 77 dissident movement in Czechoslovakia, opponents of communism based their civil struggle for human rights on philosophic foundations, and members of the Charter 77 later led the Velvet Revolution. After Patocka's self-sacrifice in 1977, Vaclav Havel emerged a strong philosophical and political force, and he continued to apply Patocka's philosophy in order to understand the human condition under late communism and the meaning of dissidence. However, the political/philosophical orientation of the Charter 77 movement failed to provide President Havel with an adequate basis for comprehending and responding to the extraordinary political and economic problems of the postcommunist period. In his discussion of Havel's presidency and the eventual corruption of the Velvet Revolution, Tucker demonstrates that the weaknesses in Charter 77 member's understanding of modernity, which did not matter while they were dissidents, seriously harmed their ability to function in a modern democratic system. Within this context, Tucker also examines Havel's recent attempt to topple the democratic but corrupt government in 1997-1998. The Philosophy and Politics of Czech Dissidence from Patocka to Havel will be of interest to students of philosophy and politics, scholars and students of Slavic studies, and historians, as well as anyone fascinated by the nature of dissidence.

Contents:

Protecting the Human: From Metaphysics to Moral Politics

From Philosophy of History to Sacrifice

Shipwrecked: Patocka's Philosophy of Czech History

The Meaning of Dissidence and Charter 77

The Philosophy of the Dissident Havel

The Philosophy and Practice of President Havel

The Velvet Corruption: Czech Politics, 1993-1998

Conclusion: Philosophy and Politics.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-283) and index.

ISBN:

9780822972136

0822972131

OCLC:

887803675