Dike, Platone e l’Europa – Martin Heidegger e Jan Patocka

In his interpretation of Anaximander’s fragment Martin Heidegger intends to remove all moral and legal con- notations from the term dike. These connotations would be the result of a Platonic, that is, metaphysical reading which has determined European philosophy and history. However, dike has not, according to Heidegger, a moral, but only an ontological significance. This interpretation contrasts with that of Jan Pato≈ka, who believes that Europe is rooted in Plato’s care of the soul. The difference between a public con- ception of dike and dikaiosyne, as outlined in the Politeia, marks an ideal of justice that has become a goal for Europe and its citizens. But today, this metaphysical ideal is no longer appropriate. It is perhaps possible to conceive of jus- tice as a continuous search, starting from the experience of suffering that has influenced the history of Europe until to- day.