Is there European Identity? Some Philosophical Considerations Cover Image

Postoji li Evropski identitet? Neka filozofska razmatranja
Is there European Identity? Some Philosophical Considerations

Author(s): Gvozden Flego
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Centar za multikulturalnost
Keywords: philosophical identity of Europe; modernity as a flux or permanent change; Europe of peace; Europe of war

Summary/Abstract: Starting with a question whether there is something like philosophical "identity of Europe", its differentia specifica, the author believes of having found the answer in modern concept of history, a change (or changing) caused by human activity. But the alleged collapse of modernity seems to have put in question the concept of history too. However, some thinkers who reflected upon modernity (Lyotard, Habermas, Taylor, Rorty, Maclntyre) agree that modernity can be understood only as a flux or permanent change. Since to change means to put into existence something new, the not-yet-existing, the basic temporal dimension of (modern) concept of history is the future and finally the hope - historical hope. In spite of such ideal philosophical projections, there is no real unity (nor identity) of Europe. It is actually divided into Europe of peace and Europe of war. However, the last universal that could unite Europe would be tolerance and the acknowledged 'weakness'.

  • Issue Year: 1999
  • Issue No: 0
  • Page Range: 141-152
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Serbian