On Friday 24 November, the International Spinoza Prize Foundation honoured as dead thinker the Czech Philosopher Jan Patočka (1907-1977), who is considered one of the most important Czech philosophers, and one of the main 20th century philosophers in Central Europe. Darian Meacham (department of Philosophy) presented the keynote address at the ceremony. Mathieu Segers, Spinozalens Foundation jury member and dean of University College Maastricht, presented a laudation.
The Spinozalens is the most prestigious philosophy award in the Netherlands. A ceremony was held the Huis van Europa in The Hague to mark the occasion. Darian Meacham presented the keynote address at the ceremony and Spinozalens Stichting jury member and dean of University College Maastricht, Mathieu Segers presented a laudation for Patočka. This was followed by a discussion on “Europa na het optimisme”, led by Mathieu Segers together with journalist Geert Mak, philosopher Guy Vanheeswijck, and former President of the European Council Herman von Rompuy.
The text of Darian Meacham’s keynote address is available here.
