Abstract

This article investigates Jan Patočka’s reception of Hegel by reconstructing the decisive role played by Hegelian thought in the formation of Patočka’s philosophical project in the post-war period. Rather than offering a comprehensive survey of explicit references, the paper adopts a thematic approach, focusing on three interconnected axes that structure this engagement: negativity, dialectic, and history. Through a close reading of post-war archival manuscripts and key published texts, with particular attention to the mediating role played by Alexandre Kojève’s interpretation of Hegel, the article shows how Patočka critically appropriates Hegel’s conception of negativity and dialectical movement while rejecting its reconciliation in the Absolute. This selective reception proves fundamental for Patočka’s transition toward asubjective phenomenology and for his understanding of world, freedom, and historical existence.