Variations on the Care of the Soul. A Model for a Philosophical Life

The notion of the care of the soul, one of the central topics of antique philosophy re-emerges in the 20^thcentury as the point where the interests of two seemingly very different thinkers meet. It is both interesting and puzzling how the thoughts of Jan Patočka and Michel Foucault coincide, not just in their emphasis, or even over-emphasis on the importance of the care of the soul, but also in their reinterpretation of the notion that aims to it revive and reveal its actuality. This paper discusses the shifts of accent from the Platonic formulation of the care of the soul (that of the First Alcibiades, the Apology and the Phaedo), to the two 20^th century revivals, with special attention on how and where these leave behind their source of inspiration. What remains constant through these shifts of emphasis is not some specific or essential content of the notion, but only an abstract principle which, however, offers a frame and an invitation to fill out this frame upon every new reading, thus applying it to the historical present. The frame includes a warning about the problematic nature of some ‘present’ state of affairs, and an appeal for a philosophical attitude of resistance. Thus it becomes a model for a philosophical life with both negative and positive aspects: the warning comes through as a critique of its present (the notion always gets filled with content in opposition to something), the appeal requires resistance and change of attitude, while they both point into the direction of a positive solution to overcome some critical state or crisis.

Full Text