Modern democracy between the Czech philosophy and critical theory

Abstract

The paper reflects on the concept of modern democracy as we encounter it in Czech philosophy, specifically in the work of Masaryk and his interpreters and critics, i.e. especially Rádl and Patočka, then in critical theory, focusing especially on the work of Habermas, and then in the work of Arnason, where we trace his inspiring political philosophical movement between Czech philosophy (Masaryk, Patočka, Kosík) and critical theory in both its German (Marx, Max Weber, Habermas) and French versions (Lefort, Castoriadis) and his creative critical dialogue with Eisenstadt. Modern democracy is not fundamentally different from liberal democracy, but more emphasizes autonomy, emancipation, its socially imaginary and critically creative dialogical participation.

Keywords

• arnason
• critical theory
• czech philosophy
• habermas
• masaryk
• modern democracy