Václav Havel on Human Conscience by Zachary Mattson

Václav Havel on Human Conscience by Zachary Mattson

History

Václav Havel is one the main European dissidents and political leaders that helped bring the change from the old style communist regimes to capitalist democracies. Havel’s experience of living and playwriting under the Czechoslovakia’s communist regime and eventually becoming their democratically elected president greatly influenced his ideology of stressing the importance of human conscience. The political philosophy of human conscience falls into two main camps freedom of expression, which includes free thought, identity, and natural rights. The other factor is the idea of responsibility which evolves from non-political means to political means, and eventually global responsibility. Havel’s human conscience is rooted in a tradition of Czech humanism and Havel’s life experiences.

Zachary Mattson

Senior Showcase Oral Presentation

Ripon College

April 18, 2017

The author reserves all rights.

Majors: History and Politics & Government