DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Confronting Heidegger

A Critical Dialogue on Politics and Philosophy

Gregory Fried editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Rowman & Littlefield International

Published:25th Oct '19

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Confronting Heidegger cover

The question of the relation of Martin Heidegger's thought to politics has been a subject of controversy since the 1930s, when he became an advocate of the National Socialist regime in Germany. This volume addresses this question in a unique format, as a dialogue among leading Heidegger scholars. That dialogue begins with an exchange between Gregory Fried and Emmanuel Faye about Faye's contention that Heidegger's work represents nothing short of "the introduction of Nazism into philosophy." At stake are issues such as what Heidegger himself understood Nazism to be, whether a thinker's life and actions define the meaning of his work, the enduring threat of fascism, and the nature of rationality and philosophy itself. Richard Polt, Matthew Sharpe, Dieter Thomä, William Altman, and Sidonie Kellerer join the conversation, with responses from Fried and Faye.

The prominent contributors to this timely and provocative volume critically reflect on and vigorously debate the significance of the deeply troubling fact that the thought of one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century was entangled in one of its most infamous and horrific political movements. At stake is nothing less than how—and, for some, even whether—we should continue to read Heidegger’s texts as contributions to philosophy. -- Bret W. Davis, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Maryland, USA
A common response today by both Heideggerians and those who believe that he should still be read as an important philosopher is that despite Martin Heidegger’s deep and even passionate involvement with Nazism and antisemitism, there is still much of philosophic importance and fruitfulness in his work. That view is both challenged and defended in this provocative collection, which needs to be read and confronted by all of us who propose to continue studying and teaching Heidegger. -- Drew A. Hyland, Charles A. Dana Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Trinity College, USA

ISBN: 9781786611901

Dimensions: 233mm x 159mm x 28mm

Weight: 635g

304 pages