This reflection critically examines Jan Patočka's notion that a philosopher must choose a theme and proceed to 'exhaust' it. The author suggests that this view is rooted in an older tradition that prioritizes philosophy as a formal literary work or a monumental system. In contrast, the text argues that the essence of philosophy lies in its response to current and situational challenges. The focus of philosophical thought should not be the construction of static systems, but rather the readiness to orient oneself within the world as a whole, particularly in new and unprecedented circumstances. A theme should not be artificially exhausted within a context detached from time and place; instead, it must be concentrated into the actual 'hic et nunc' (here and now). Philosophy is thus presented not as a finished book or product, but as a continuous intellectual preparedness to engage with reality in its situational complexity and wholeness, utilizing historical themes primarily as reference points for contemporary understanding.