Parmenides

Martin Heidegger

Indiana University Press, Jul 22, 1998 - Philosophy - 170 pages

Parmenides, a lecture course delivered by Martin Heidegger at the University of Freiburg in 1942-1943, presents a highly original interpretation of ancient Greek philosophy. A major contribution to Heidegger's provocative dialogue with the pre-Socratics, the book attacks some of the most firmly established conceptions of Greek thinking and of the Greek world. The central theme is the question of truth and the primordial understanding of truth to be found in Parmenides' "didactic poem." Heidegger highlights the contrast between Greek and Roman thought and the reflection of that contrast in language. He analyzes the decline in the primordial understanding of truth—and, just as importantly, of untruth—that began in later Greek philosophy and that continues, by virtue of the Latinization of the West, down to the present day. Beyond an interpretation of Greek philosophy, Parmenides (volume 54 of Heidegger's Collected Works) offers a strident critique of the contemporary world, delivered during a time that Heidegger described as "out of joint."

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• RECAPITULATION: 14
• edness and unconcealedness falsity and truth: 17
• RECAPITULATION: 25
• RECAPITULATION: 35
• RECAPITULATION: 43
• RECAPITULATION: 54
• RECAPITULATION: 65
• Aadóv Aadéç The event of the transfor: 71
• action The word as the realm of the essence: 79
• 6 The Greeks final word concerning the hidden counteressence: 88
• b Preparation for a detour over the path of a commentary: 91
• c The question of the here and there Politeia X 614b2: 97
• RECAPITULATION: 105
• g The divine as it enters into the unconcealed The daimo: 114
• 7 The Greeks final word concerning the hidden counteressence: 118
• RECAPITULATION: 129
• beginning Reference to Homer The two senses of appear: 131
• 9 OɛάAlýdɛia The looking of Being into the open lighted: 161
• EDITORS AFTERWORD: 169

About the author

Martin Heidegger was born in Messkirch, Baden, Germany on September 22, 1889. He studied Roman Catholic theology and philosophy at the University of Frieburg before joining the faculty at Frieburg as a teacher in 1915. Eight years later Heidegger took a teaching position at Marburg. He taught there until 1928 and then went back to Frieburg as a professor of philosophy. As a philosopher, Heidegger developed existential phenomenology. He is still widely regarded as one of the most original philosophers of the 20th century. Influenced by other philosophers of his time, Heidegger wrote the book, Being in Time, in 1927. In this work, which is considered one of the most important philosophical works of our time, Heidegger asks and answers the question "What is it, to be?" Other books written by Heidegger include Basic Writings, a collection of Heidegger's most popular writings; Nietzsche, an inquiry into the central issues of Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy; On the Way to Language, Heidegger's central ideas on the origin, nature and significance of language; and What is Called Thinking, a systematic presentation of Heidegger's later philosophy. Since the 1960s, Heidegger's influence has spread beyond continental Europe and into a number of English-speaking countries. Heidegger died in Messkirch on May 26, 1976.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Parmenides; Studies in Continental Thought
• Author: Martin Heidegger
• Publisher: Indiana University Press, 1998
• ISBN: 0253212146, 9780253212146
• Length: 170 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / General; Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical