Ecocriticism is a relatively new, important and rapidly developing field of study of works of art, focusing on the relationship between literature and the environment. From its initial focus on non-fiction depictions of nature (in “nature writing”), it has expanded its attention during its second generation to include all types of environmental representation in literature and media in general. Far from being a purely evaluative or even ideological method, ecocriticism explores representations of the relationship between nature and culture, reflects on the interconnection between environmental and social themes and analyses innovative narrative strategies that seek to address complex issues. Following an introductory characterization and an overview of the development of ecocriticism, this study will focus on seven contemporary Czech novels dealing with environmental issues.
The essay, celebrating the 70th birthday of the German author, essayist and philosopher Peter Sloterdijk, focuses on the main discrepancies in his opinions in the period between his Critique of Cynical Reason (1983) and the current social-critical and political engagement (Die nehmende Hand und die gebende Seite, 2010 - Was geschah im 20. Jahrhundert?, 2016, including his confrontational polemics in the journal Cicero between 2014–2017). The author poses two questions: a) Did Sloterdijk's readers consider his opinions a genuine critical philosophy, while they concealed what Hegel marked as "gloss of uncommonness" of original conservativism? b) When and how can philosophical theories achieve an acceptable level of trustworthiness? The answers mark the determinants of Sloterdijk's anthropology, generally falling under the concept of "Anthropocene" and relying on several theories. The author highlights Sloterdijk’s theory of borders and his economic theory of the replacement of the tax system by a system of donation and charity. He also points out that Sloterdijk does not present any relevant arguments or explanations of practical implications of his theories. Instead he limits himself to moralistic and journalistic claims.