Heidegger

• Book Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 9781032032146
• Writer: John Richardson
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of Pages: 432
• Release Date: 23-02-2012
• Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.0 inches

Description:
Martin Heidegger is regarded as one of the twentieth century’s most influential yet enigmatic philosophers. His early fusion of phenomenology with existentialism left a lasting impact on thinkers like Sartre, while his later critique of modern rationality influenced Derrida and many others. In this introduction, John Richardson offers a comprehensive overview of Heidegger’s thought, making it an ideal starting point for anyone engaging with his work for the first time.

The book begins with a biographical sketch of Heidegger’s life and intellectual evolution, focusing on the development of his ideas up to the publication of Being and Time. Richardson explores how Heidegger adapted Husserl’s phenomenological method in this landmark text, breaking it down into three essential areas: pragmatism, existentialism, and temporality—each representing a distinct aspect of human experience.

The later chapters delve into Heidegger’s subsequent philosophical journey, including his shift towards a historical account of being and his exploration of how we must rethink our approach to understanding truth. The book also touches on Heidegger’s influential writings on language, art, and poetry, and their role in the Western tradition of being. A central concern of his later work is the technological mindset that excludes the divine, marking a turning point in Heidegger’s philosophical project.

In the final chapter, Richardson examines Heidegger’s enduring influence on intellectual movements such as phenomenology, existentialism, and postmodernism. This thorough and engaging introduction is essential reading for students and scholars interested in understanding one of philosophy’s most significant and challenging figures.