Martin Heidegger: Influential 20th-century philosopher
Known for obscure writing style and verbal maneuvers
Source of many 20th-century intellectual movements, especially existentialism
Background
Early life as a Jesuit seminarian
Doctoral dissertation on Duns Scotus: Indicates high intellectual ambition
First major work: "Being and Time" (1927), published in Husserl's phenomenological yearbook
Philosophical Influence
Claims not to be an existentialist but historically influences existentialists like Sartre and Camus
Focus on ontology (the science of being)
Seeks to revive ancient Greek philosophical inquiry
Critiques modern approaches to ontology as having declined since Aristotle
Concept of Being
Heidegger's definition of being differs from beings (individual entities)
Discusses the difficulty of expressing what "being" is
Connection to Husserl: Focus on introspection rather than empirical investigation
Attempts to link being to everyday human experience
Key Concepts
Dasein: Human existence embedded in the world; finite, contingent, and uncertain
Three-fold structure of Dasein:
Understanding: Contextualizing and attributing meaning to experiences
Mood: Emotional states are critical for human understanding
Discourse: Language's role in shaping understanding of being
Authenticity
Emphasis on moving from inauthenticity to authenticity by confronting the true nature of existence
The imperative to engage with being and self-reflection
The Structure of Dasein
Facticity: Being thrown into existence without choice
Existentiality: Appropriating the world for personal use and meaning
Fallen-ness: Condition of being caught up in trivial concerns
Confronting Death
Important theme: acceptance of mortality informs authentic existence
Conscience: A guide towards authentic being, urging confrontation with one's own finitude
Heidegger's later works
Continued analysis of pre-Socratic philosophy
Emphasis on the philosophical history of ontology and phenomenological destruction of previous concepts
Language viewed as integral to philosophy; belief that philosophy should primarily be conducted in German
Critiques of Heidegger
Complexity and obscurity in writing often lead to misunderstandings
Allegations of nihilism, particularly concerning ethical implications
Controversial political affiliations (Nazi connections) cast a shadow over philosophical integrity
Some works interpreted as rephrasing theological concepts
Conclusion
Emphasizes introspection and authenticity as central to understanding human existence
Heidegger's philosophy raises deep questions about being, existence, and the nature of reality, posed against the backdrop of modernity and its distractions.