Abstract

The aim of the present essay is to contribute to a phenomenological concept of Europe, taking as its starting point the idea of Europe developed by Jan Patŏcka as “Post-Europe.” Following the phenomenological account of self-transformation as the infinite task and eternal care for the soul, the essay discusses critically the phenomenological account of the self-differentiation of identity, which in turn introduces Hölderlin’s and Heidegger’s respective conceptions of “becoming in dissolution” to this discussion. It shows that the dialectic of identity and difference is inadequate to conceive the philosophical question of contemporary Europe. Instead it insists that Europe is an “intervocal” rather than an equi-vocal concept. The essay proposes the concept of “intervocity [Zwischendeutigkeit]” and an open “in-betweeness” as key to an understanding of Europe as a philosophical task