Josef Kainar was a Czech poet, lyrics writer, dramatic author and translator, but also a musician, illustrator, artist and journalist. He was a member of artistic group Skupina 42 and literary group Ohnice.

Josef Kalousek, was a Czech historian and professor of Czech history at Univerzita Karlova in Prague.

Josef Kjellgren, was a Swedish writer and playwright.

Josef Kohler was a German jurist, author and poet.

Josef Emil Krejcik was an Austrian chess master, problemist, journalist and author.

Josef Lada was a Czech painter, illustrator and writer. He is best known as the illustrator of Jaroslav Hašek's World War I novel The Good Soldier Švejk, having won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1963.

Josef Ladislav Píč was Czech archaeologist and paleontologist, one of founders of modern Czech archaeology.

Josef Nesvadba was a Czech writer, best known in the English-speaking world for his science fiction short stories, many of which have appeared in English translation.

Josef Pieper was a German Catholic philosopher and an important figure in the resurgence of interest in the thought of Thomas Aquinas in early-to-mid 20th-century philosophy. Among his most notable works are The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance; Leisure, the Basis of Culture; and Guide to Thomas Aquinas.

Josef Richard Vilímek was a Czech publisher. He established a well known publishing house and was father of publisher Josef Richard Vilímek.