7 keys to understanding Heidegger

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) is considered one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century.. His ideas have had a great influence on contemporary philosophy and psychology. His main investigations revolve around our relationship with the world and the awareness of death. His prolific work continues to captivate thinkers of our time.

Understanding Heidegger’s philosophy is not always an easy task, since his language can often be very obscure.. However, clarifying some of his concepts will help us have a clearer vision of human life and its questions. Next, we will present some keys so that you can better understand his thinking.

1. Ontology and phenomenology

To understand Heidegger’s thought, we must take into account that His philosophy is heir to the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl.. Phenomenology is a philosophical method that takes into account the existence of objects in relation to the way we perceive them, and not as mere entities separate from us.

According to Heidegger, the different branches of science study being as an entity and therefore do not reach a complete understanding of it. Ontology, a philosophical discipline that studies the being of things, must use the phenomenological method to find the real meaning of being. To achieve a true understanding of “what-is,” we must think of things and ourselves as interrelated, and not separated from the rest of the entities.

Martin Heidegger (1889 – 1976) is known for his work in phenomenology and existentialism.

2. “Dasein” and anxiety

The concept of «Dasein It is one of the most important in the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. The term, which comes from German and can be translated as ‘being-there’ or ‘being in the world’, and it refers to human existence. According to Heidegger, the Dasein It has a unique relationship with the world and, through its existence, realizes its own finitude.

Heidegger argues that Dasein He is different from other beings in the world, as he has the ability to understand and care about his own existence. He Dasein He is aware of his own finitude and this generates concern or anxiety about the possibility of death. This anxiety is an essential characteristic of our constitution as humans and what distinguishes us from other beings in the world.

He Dasein realizes his existence in relation to the world and other beings, That is, he is aware of his situation in the world. This awareness of his situation in the world is what Heidegger calls “being-in-the-world” and is essential to understanding our fundamental concern with finitude and death.

3. Being and time

In his main work, Being and timeHeidegger distinguishes between time as an ontological criterion (temporariness) and the time of entities (temporality), that is, the duration of things, measurable time.

Time in the ontological sense is not something that begins and ends, but rather the temporal quality that allows things to exist, their “temporariness.”. In this sense, temporariness is exhibited as the condition of possibility of the Dasein of being able to be in time. Unraveling this quality will be the fundamental work of ontology, since the structure of being is found there.

The structure of being is found in its temporality.

4. The forgetfulness of being

The distressing condition that human beings experience when they are aware of their finitude pushes them to live in what Heidegger defines as a having-been, that is, a past that becomes present. He Dasein tends to get lost in everyday things, such as work, social relationships and recreational activities, and forgets to take care of their own existence and their relationship with the world.

For Heidegger, This tendency is what leads us to live in an inauthentic way, conforming to the expectations and values ​​of a world predetermined by the past, sinking into tedium and boredom.

To get out of this condition, it is necessary to rediscover our own authenticity, awakening a mood that allows us to face anguish and unfold the fundamental metaphysical questions about our existence.

5. Heidegger and technology

According to Heidegger, technology hides the true meaning of being, since it cannot be reduced to observable entities. The technique does not not only hides being, but also the very meaning of our own existence, being the main responsible for throwing us into a life lacking authenticity.

Technology helps science categorize entities and isolate them from our relationship with them. Suppose we see an open book in a room. When we look at it, we do not see ink stains on paper, but rather an object that has a certain meaning for us. However, if we introduce a person from a culture that does not have books, it is very likely that he will not see the same object as we do.

In the same way, Being cannot be reduced to the sum of its parts, but its essence ends up being completed in relation to what surrounds it and the meaning it acquires through the perception of the subjects.

When knowledge is enumerated and categorized, the essence of being is forgotten.

6. Heidegger and the poets

According to Heidegger, poetry is a way of thinking that goes far beyond logic and reason. For the thinker, poetic expression can help us obtain a clearer and deeper understanding than that presented by science and philosophy.

The sensitivity of the poets manages to capture the essence of being and express it in a metaphorical way that transcends mere technical description. It should be noted that the poetry Heidegger refers to is represented by renowned German poets such as Hölderlin, Rilke, Trakl and Celan.

7. Political controversies

Heidegger was part of the Nazi party between 1933 and 1945. This fact has led many to question the validity of his thought, given that they maintain that his philosophy may be compatible with one of the most atrocious political processes in history.

On the other hand, there are those who defend his philosophy by arguing that the ideas developed by Heidegger are not related to the political inclinations that the author maintained throughout his life, and even that his adherence to the Nazi party was strategic.

It should be noted that, unlike many contemporary German intellectuals, Heidegger never apologized for his support of the Nazi regime. In 2014, a series of documents called black notebooks were published, which explicitly show his adherence to Nazism and his anti-Semitic ideas.

An influential philosopher

Without a doubt, Heidegger’s thought cannot be left aside when it comes to understanding the philosophy of the 20th century. Despite the political controversies that surround the author, his ideas have been of great influence on many later thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Michel Foucault, Peter Sloterdijk and also on psychiatrists such as Medard Boss.

On the other hand, his detractors accuse him of using obscure and ambiguous language, which can easily give rise to fallacies and misleading definitions. Despite the criticism, it is difficult to ignore a thinker like Heidegger and he will surely continue to be of great influence for those who want to enter the world of contemporary philosophy.

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