Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher known for his contributions to existential phenomenology and existentialism. His early education was in theology, but he soon turned to philosophy.
“Being and Time” is one of Heidegger’s most influential works. Here he explores the nature of being, time and human existence. In 20th century Germany Martin Heidegger was well-known. He held several academic positions and had some controversial social interactions.
In the world of existentialism, Heidegger’s ideas continue to be studied and debated. His thinking differed from that of other existentialists in various ways, some key listed below:
***Fundamental Ontology: While many of the other famous existentialists were thinking about human existence and its inherent meaninglessness, Heidegger was exploring a different level: the nature of being, itself.
***Omits God(s): Heidegger tends to avoid discussion on religious themes. He focuses more on the human relationship with being, rather than the relationship with being (living life) rather than the potential relationship to a divine figure.
***Dasein: This concept refers to human existence. Heidegger introduced the concept as fundamental to all of his thinking. He used it to emphasize the idea that humans are inextricably linked to their world and that they must grapple with questions of authenticity, individuality, and temporality.
***Hermeneutics: Later in his life Heidegger started to associate with hermeneutics, with is the study of interpretation. He explored how human understanding and interpretation play a central role in our interaction with the world and the meaning of being in the world.
***Language/Poetry: The idea that language shapes understanding of the world was on that Heidegger also explored. He felt there was significant importance within written works, in particular he thought that poetry was a form of literature most likely to reveal deeper truths about existence.
***A Little Less About Freedom: Existentialism, at its core, strongly emphasizes human freedom and choice. Heidegger took a slightly different approach. He put less emphasis there and more on the pre-existing cultural and historical contexts that shape a human being.
While he is a strong existentialist, the way he approached the concepts from new angles is intriguing. He is an example of why philosophy can be such a passionate study. Heidegger verges from the most common paths but helps the reader remember that many paths lead to the same place.