The society of knowledge is made an object of investigation by many contemporary authors. Its basic characteristics, however, were captured by Radovan Richta as long ago as the 1960’s. Richta was one of the first theoreticians to point out that know¬ledge, and the all-round development of man, is becoming an economic factor. In his pioneering conception, Richta was inspired by Marx, who analysed the basic principles of the society of knowledge as far back as the second half of the nineteenth century. The author interprets Marx’s conception with a special emphasis on the contradictions which appear between the demands of the all-round developed person and that of the capitalist economy. In conclusion, the author formulates the thesis that the contemporary society of knowledge is a society of fluid alienation in which knowledge acquires an alienated character.
Since the Middle Ages, inns served almost exclusively to men, women appeared there only exceptionally. This fact was given by the historical development, typical (not only) for the area of Central Europe. The position of women changed only during the industrial revolution, as they started to take part in the social process of common work, which created conditions for their emancipation.
The process of female emancipation was also expressed in
violation of male domains, especially all kinds of places of recreation. While in the 19th century women were allowed to enter an inn only exceptionally and exclusively in the company of their husbands, fathers or other male relatives, in the 20th century they started to appear here regularly. Women associated in clubs and societies and held their meetings in inns. Particularly female intellectuals and artists followed by other strata of women in twos or alone more and more often sought out suitable facilities, especially coffee houses.