title: Europe, or The Infinite Task: A Study of a Philosophical Concept (Meridian: Crossing Aesthetics)
author:  Rodolphe Gasch&eacute; 
description: "Gasch is among the top continental philosophers working in the United States, and this sophisticated and stimulating book is perhaps his crowning achievement so far." (Robert Bernasconi)<br /><br />"In our ironic, post-philosophical epoch, it seems anachronistic and even foolish to write such an exhaustive philosophical treatisein effect, four books in 412 pages. Despite this, Gasch offers an admirably unified argument thanks to his constant focus on 'question Europe'." (<I>Philosophy in Review</I>)<br /><br />"<i>Europe, or the Infinite Task</i> represents a much needed contribution to contemporary debates in political theory. Avoiding easy ways out or simplistic stances towards complex conceptual problems, Gasch faces the challenge of thinking about universality today with all its subtleties and perplexities. His book is not only an inspiring example of patient textual analysis and scholarly rigor, but also an invitation for the reader to face philosophical thinking in all its complexityperhaps a practical exercise of the 'infinite task' Gasch wishes that we consider." (Javier Burdman <i><i>Theory & Event</i></i>)
zlib_text: Ivan Illich
  
  
  Kreftingstr. 16
  
  
  D - 28203 Bremen
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## **Hospitality and Pain**
  
  This paper was presented in Chicago 1987, at the invitation of David Ramage of
  McCormick Theological Seminary
  
  
  
  
  
  _Printed:_ 30.01.01
  
  
  _Filename_ _and_ _date_ : hospital.doc, 2.12.97
  
  
  
  
  
  2\. _Copyright_
  
  
  \- The author is elaborating this manuscript for an article to be published in
  a collection of his writings. Copyright Ivan Illich.
  
  
  
  
  
  For further informationplease contact:
  
  
  Silja Samerski Albrechtstr.19 D - 28203 Bremen
  
  
  Tel: +49-(0)421-7947546 Fax: +49-(0)421-705387 e-mail: piano@uni-bremen.de
  _Ivan Illich: Hospitality and Pain_
  
  
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  ## **HOSPITALITY AND PAIN**
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Ivan Illich
  
  I want to explore with you a phenomenon that I consider constitutive of the
  West, of that West which has shaped me, body and soul, flesh and blood. This
  central reality of the West is marvelously expressed in the old Latin phrase:
  Corruptio optimi quae est pessima - the historical progression in which 