This text provides a comprehensive examination of the concept of debt within the philosophical framework of Jan Patočka, specifically focusing on his influential reflections from 1966. Patočka defines debt not as a mere technical or financial obligation, but primarily as a specific form of loan that carries a profound ethical and social dimension. Although he clarifies that debt is not a gift, it is nonetheless understood as a vital expression of human connection and authentic interpersonal solidarity. The author places significant emphasis on the fact that the relationship between the creditor and the debtor is inherently grounded in freedom. However, this existential freedom does not lead to arbitrary action but rather to a heightened sense of responsibility. While refusing to repay a debt remains within the realm of an individual's free will, such unethical conduct inevitably degrades the debtor to the status of a parasite who preys upon social integrity and erodes communal trust. Patočka’s original perspective thus offers a deep ontological anchoring of economic categories within the broader moral order of human existence. The text further explores how these ideas about debt resonate with phenomenological concepts of reciprocity and freedom found throughout Patočka's wider body of work.