Abstract

As Karl Löwith suggested, modern philosophy of history secularizes Christian Heilsgeschichte by turning the eschaton into an immanent telos of the historical process. This article agrees with Löwith that there is an essential relation between the modern understanding of history and the Christian model. Yet, in drawing on the philosophy of history of Jan Patočka, it shows that for modern philosophy of history, there is a second option of dealing with the eschaton. Just as the Christian eschaton constitutes history also in urging to make a decision for Christ here and now, modern history constantly calls for making a decision concerning its meaning. According to Patočka, however, the ultimate meaning of history cannot be specified. Rather, meaning realizes itself in the question of meaning. One might speak here of a “crossed-out eschatology” that stands in opposition to the idea of human self-redemption, even if it is thoroughly modern.