This contribution endeavours to show the substance of Machovec’s philo¬sophical thinking in the context of his time and the coordinates of his personal life. Tis we can best trace in the problems the seeking meaning in life. That is for Machovec a lifelong concern. He understands humans and their discovery of meaning in this world as a complex problem. Its core is a cultivated orientation of each individual in the world. As a “master of dialogue”, Machovec shows the possibilities of seeking self-determination in this way.