This text from 1984 critically reflects on the state of philosophy in contemporary Czechoslovakia, focusing on the stark divide between official and unofficial intellectual activity. The author argues that under the totalitarian regime, legitimate philosophical work is strictly restricted to state-employed and controlled individuals who practice it merely as a professional livelihood. Any independent pursuit of thought without state oversight or financial support is viewed with inherent suspicion and systematically obstructed by various obstacles. The text contends that this forced institutionalization leads to the inevitable decline of the discipline, transforming it into mere sophistry that prioritizes ideological conformity over the genuine pursuit of truth. The distinction between free inquiry and state-managed institutional practice is identified as the crucial factor determining the integrity of philosophical work. Ultimately, the document serves as a significant testimony to intellectual unfreedom and the struggle to preserve authentic thinking in an environment where independent philosophy is perceived as an undesirable element challenging the official state monopoly on knowledge.