Study analyses public philosophic debate in 1844–48 in which topic of distinctively “Czech philosophy” was first articulated and discussed as a “debate about the being and non-being of German philosophy in Czech lands”. Author acquaints reader with intellectual context of arising Czech philosophy in first half of 19th century, based on conceptual influence of Herder, Hegel and Herbart. Starting point of that discussion was role of philosophy as academic subject at University and as part of literature and culture generally. In an analysis of the debate and of positions of chief participants (K. Havlíček, V. Gabler, F. Čupr, A. Smetana, K. B. Štorch) study shows that as subject of reflection the discussion included prob¬lems of philosophy in Czech language, place and role of philosophy in the Czech lands, of special traits of Czech “national” philosophy, its limits and possibilities, of reception of German classical philosophy and finally even meta-philosophical question of what philosophy is or ought to be in general. Two examples of the way this debate was recalled and updated in the 20th century in quite different situation of the period between the wars (F. Pelikán) and after the wars (K. Kosík) – in the twenties and in the fifties – show subsequently the transformed contexts and problems of modern Czech philosophy. Analysis of the debate and its heritage are placed within the overall discussion of what Czech philosophy is from linguistic, territorial, national and factual viewpoint.