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This is the first time that a seminal collection of fourteen essays by Martin Heidegger (originally published in German under the title Wegmarken) has appeared in English in its complete form.The volume includes new or first-time translations of seven essays, and thoroughly revised, updated versions of the other seven.They will prove an essential resource for all students of Heidegger, whether they work in philosophy, literary theory, religious studies or intellectual history. ... Read more

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Pathmarks to Heidegger
Martin Heidegger (1889 - 1976) is best-known as the author of a seminal work of 20th Century philosophy, the notoriously difficult "Being and Time" (1927). Heidegger wrote a great deal besides "Being and Time", and many of his important writings are gathered into this collection of essays, "Pathmarks". Heidegger first published the volume as "Wegmarken" in 1967 and it appeared in English in 1998.The book consists of 14 previously-published essays ranging in dates from 1919 through 1961.

As does "Being and Time", the essays in "Pathmarks" make for difficult reading.But they largely reward the effort required. While much of the essays remain opaque, I found that they increased my understanding of "Being and Time" and of the direction of Heidegger's thought.For those unfamiliar with the direction of Heidegger's work, Heidegger is concerned with the nature of "Being" rather than with the study of particular beings. Heidegger thinks that Western thought has lost understanding of the nature of Being - and of the importance of the question of Being - through its preoccupation with beings, especially with science and technology. He seeks to restore an understanding of the importance of thinking about Being. Heidegger also wants to change the reader's understanding of truth from a view in which, say, sentences are true when they somehow represent reality (such as, the sentence "the cat is on the mat" is true when a cat is on the mat)to a view in which truth is a property of things. This view of truth ties into Heidegger's thoughts on Being. Truth is a disclosedness, a presencing of Being rather than a representation. The representational view of truth may have some merit in considering beings, but it has come to displace the presencing nature of truth in considering Being.

In "Being and Time" Heidegger approached Being through his study of human being, which he called "dasein".Heidegger studied dasein through what he termed a phenomenological method that he derived and changed from his mentor, the German philosopher Edmund Husserl. Shortly after writing that book, his thought underwent a turn (a Kehre in Heidegger's words) in which he tried to focus on Being rather than dasein. He tried to approach Being through language, thought and especially poetry rather than through concepts. His later works thus go far beyond phenomenology and frequently are delivered in a style that approaches preaching.

"Pathmarks" includes works that predate "Being and Time" as well as late essays that show the turn.The book thus opens with a long early essay "Comments on Karl Jaspers's Psychology of Worldviews" which shows Heidegger's early thinking and is a predecessor of "Being and Time". The essay "Phenomenology and Theology" was written about the same time as "Being and Time" and it is a rare venture by Heidegger into Christian doctrine. But this essay also includes some additional and important material that Heidegger added much later, in 1964.The collection includes Heidegger's 1929 lecture, "What is Metaphysics" which explores the relationship between science and philosophy in a provocative way. The positivist philosopher Rudolph Carnaplater ridiculed this essay for its proclamation that "the nothing nothings itself."Heidegger elaborated upon and tried to explain this lecture in a "Postscript" that he wrote in 1943, also included in "Pathmarks."

This collection includes three important essays, "On the Essence of Ground" (1929) which elaborates the distinction between Being and beings, the companion essay "On the Essence of Truth" (1930) which discusses truth as presencing.In the "Letter on `Humanism' of 1946 Heidegger distances himself from existentialism, responds to criticisms of his work, and explains the turn in his thought.

I was fascinated by the essays in this volume in which Heidegger discusses great earlier philosophers and relates their work to his own."Pathmarks" includes important essays on Plato (his allegory of the cave and concept of truth), Aristotle (his concept of "nature"), Leibniz, on the nature of Being, Kant, on the ontological argument, and Hegel, on his view of Greek philosophy. It is always wise to be wary of one philosopher's understanding of other philosophers, and Heidegger's interpretations are often criticized. I find his readings of his predecessors frequently insightful.And these essays are important in approaching Heidegger's own thought.

Heidegger saw his works as reflections on Being rather than as the development of a systematic philosophy.It is best in this matter to take him at his word. Heidegger was tarnished by his political commitments during the 1930s, and these commitments must be kept in mind in working through and assessing his writings.However, there is still much to be learned here.

Myrecommendation is that readers with some background in philosophy should first struggle through "Being and Time" before approaching the essays in this collection. Readers who become fascinated with "Being and Time" and who want to pursue Heidegger's thought further will learn a great deal from turning to "Pathmarks."

Robin Friedman

This starts with a great beginning.
The first item in this book by Heidegger is a review of Jaspers's "Psychology of World Views."Heidegger's interest in the tendencies which Jaspers seemed to serve in his observations are a sign ofthe unsettling effect that true philosophy introduces into a view that hasassumed normal psychological orientations.I haven't attempted to pursuethe rest of the thoughts in this book.The initial outburst of rebelliousenthusiasm for this kind of thing was responsible for more than enoughtrouble in my case.

Path to and back
An excellent book if you are already interested in Heidegger (also good for students who require some understanding without the time to read his larger works). For example, 'On the essence and Concept of Fusis' clarifiesmuch about the ever folding nature of Being that at times seems ambiguous.It is not a complete enclyclopedia of meaning but as an extra learningdevice beside his other works there is an essay that covers everything. Butdo not approach it as a set of essays to prelude other reading. ... Read more

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"Only a god can save us now..."
For the majority of people, it is the second of the two essays in this volume that will compel them to buy Identity and Difference.Both essays, however, are about the nature of metaphysics and given that the very possibility of metaphysics is a hot issue today, readers will likely find themselves benefitting by giving both essays a deep reading.The book also contains the original German of the essays, which makes the book twice as long; if one reads German then one will certainly benefit from this as it gives one the opportunity to study Heidegger's nuanced and technical prose more closely.

"The Onto-Theological Constitution of Metaphysics" has become something of a classic little work in the realm of post-modern religious and theological studies; however un/intentionally, Heidegger managed, with it, to open up the door for a return of the theological right in the middle of all philosophical discourse.Perhaps this is ironic, given that Heidegger was quite insistent that philosophy was fundamentally secular in its orientation.Or, perhaps this is intentional and serves to support the medieval Scholastic contentional the philosophy is the "hand maid" of theology and that reason finds its necessary completion in plenitudinous event of Revelation.

How does one find or speak of the God that is beyond the "causa sui" (ie, self-caused) God of metaphysics?Where is the God that can be prayed to and danced before, worshipped and adored when metaphysics has turned the concept of God into nothing more than that of the unmoved mover?Heidegger does not seek to give a theological explanation here to this question, but simply to note that the problem exists.This does not mean the end of God, however, but necessitates a rethinking of the function and nature of metaphysics: we need to step out of metaphysics so that we might step back into its "active essence".

This is a work that complements Heidegger's Introduction to Metaphysics well.Written in the post-war period, it witnesses to much of the confusion that was prevalent during the time and the urgent feeling that certain long-standing notions could no longer make sense of the late modern experience.Heidegger's seeking a God beyond the idol-god of metaphysics has paved the way for much contemporary thought concerning the relation of philosophy to theology (and its most acute exposition has been given by Jean-Luc Marion in his fine book God Without Being).Identity and Difference is essential reading.

Excellent, but brief
"The problem of identity has been a basic philosophical issue since Parmenides. Parmenides stated it in the form: `thought and being are the same,' with a radicality and a simplicity perhaps never again possible for later thinkers. Heidegger has pondered over Parmenides' statement for years, returning to it again and again in his writings. Thus it came as no surprise to this translator when Heidegger stated that he considered Identity and Difference to be the most important thing he has published since Being and Time."

So says Joan Stambaugh, the translator of this excellent lecture course by Heidegger delivered at the University of Frieburg during 1957. In it he discusses the problems of identity, sameness, and relations of beings in Parmenides, Plato, on to the logic of Hegel. The latter part of the lecture is devoted to further metaphysical questions of the meaning of Being initially taken up in Being and Time, and finally concludes with remarks of onto-theology.

This volume includes the German text which is helpful, however there is really only 74 pages of material here and the volume is $16 so it's not a great bang for your buck, but the edition is as lovely as the content. ... Read more

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Heidegger is now widely recognized as one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century, yet much of his later philosophy remains shrouded in confusion and controversy. Restoring Heidegger's understanding of metaphysics as 'ontotheology' to its rightful place at the center of his later thought, this book explains the depth and significance of his controversial critique of technology, his appalling misadventure with Nazism, his prescient critique of the university, and his important suggestions for the future of higher education. It will be required reading for those seeking to understand the relationship between Heidegger's philosophy and National Socialismas well as the continuing relevance of his work. ... Read more

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Just to reinforce what others have stated...
This book is a fantastic contribution to the vast array of books on Heidegger's thought. It shows the development of his philosophy over time and his confrontation with the tragedy of Nazism in a positive way, rather than re-hashing dry debates over whether or not in condemns his project as a whole. The book flows very well and Thomson presents his arguments wonderfully. The points are explained lucidly and in depth, and he makes sure to integrate the each one into the overall thesis of the book. The organization of the sections is superb, his writing is clear, manageable, and yet still revealing, and the topics that are covered in the book fit into a cohesive whole that forms a powerful critique of our post-modern age.

In sum, I highly recommend this book to any who are grappling with Heidegger's thought.

-G.

an outstanding contribution to the literature
I am not a philosopher, but have been studying Heidegger, especially the secondary literature, for many decades. This superb work may not be for the first-time reader of Heidegger's thought, but it is so lucid and well-organized that although for me it required careful, "slow" reading, it should be quite accessible to anyone who is even superficially acquainted with that thought; it would also be invaluable to the more experienced reader. Paradoxically, it is introductory in a sense, yet advanced. The book clarifies key issues in Heidegger's later thought, ones that typically are passed over in the other critiques I know. It carefully explains and explores his key term, "ontotheology"; usefully contributes to the already available voluminous discussions of "technological" or "calculative" thinking (roughly: "Gestell"); in the context of university education examines in great detail Heidegger'sproposed alternatives to that calculative thinking; and, contributes thoughtfully to the many already available extensive debates and discussions pertaining to Heidegger's role in the Nazi regime. Furthermore, the author obviously is sensitive to and considerate of the reader's plight in understanding complex, difficult, highly non-standard material, and expands on major and minor points in highly useful, clear, well-organized ways. Obviously, I am much taken with this work--something that does not happen to me very often!

Buy this book!
Thomson's groundbreaking study skillfully combines (1) a rigorous philosophical analysis of the foundations of Heidegger's later philosophy, (2) a convincing historical reconstruction of the link between Heidegger's philosophy and his infamous involvement with Nazism, and (3) a demonstration of the continuing relevance of Heidegger to the contemporary crisis of purpose in higher education.The book is informative, meticulous, and beautifully- written. It is philosophically substantive without bogging the reader down in minutiae, serious without being turgid.Thomson writes in a clear and crisp style that is a joy to read, and he has much to say that is of interest -- not only to students of Heidegger, but to anyone concerned with the future of the university and, indeed, civilization as a whole.Students of the history of philosophywill find here one of the best available introductions to the Later Heidegger.Weary veterans of the controversy over Heidegger's politics should welcome Thomson's moderate position as a sensible and much-needed attempt at mediation between the warring factions.Disspirited culture-warriors will find new food for thought and discussion in Thomson's suggestions regarding how we might apply Heidegger's best insights to rejuvenate the university and society.This book is a veritable feast for the mind.Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down! ... Read more

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"For those who want to think rigorously with Heidegger and with the movement of thinking set forth in Contributions, Vallega-Neu's book will prove to be an invaluable guide and resource. One of the great virtues of the book is its impeccable clarity and readability." -- Peter Warnek

In her concise introduction to Martin Heidegger's second most important work, Contributions to Philosophy (From Enowning), Daniela Vallega-Neu provides guidance and structure to readers attempting to navigate this much-discussed but difficult text. Contributions reflects Heidegger's struggle to think at the edge of words and to bring to language what remains beyond the written or the spoken. In view of the centrality of Being and Time to Heidegger interpretation in recent decades, Vallega-Neu introduces Contributions first by reconsidering Being and Time in light of the transformative turn from prepositional thought to the poietic, performative character of thinking and language that marks the passage between the two works. She then discusses each of the "joinings" that structure the composition of Contributions. This graceful introduction provides students and scholars with a much-needed key for unlocking the thinking that underlies Heidegger's later writings.

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An insightful but troubled reading of Schelling
Because it is thoughtful and thurough, as well as the fact that is one of the few book-length treatments of any single Schelling text, Heidegger's text on Schelling's "Freedom Essay" is a valuable book for studying Schelling. But despite its use, this text has significant flaws.First, Heidegger spends far too little time acquianting the reader with Schelling's earlier thought, and it refuses to see the latter period of Schelling's career as anything more than a "silent period." As a result, Schelling's last major published work is open to be interpreted, somewhat misrepresented, and fitted into Heidegger's own philosophical assumptions rather than the development of its author's philosophical insight.

Further, the text's final critical assesment of Schelling has very little weight outside of Heideger's own thought...in fact, the criticism is little more than an assertion that Schelling's theological thoughts must be attributed to man rather than any religious or philosphical god. Heidegger tries to preserve Schelling's anthropological insights apart from the foundation they require, but can offer no compeling reason why the one should not be rejected with the other.

Thus, this text offers the student two things: a valuable though flawed discussion of Schelling, and a chance to see Heidegger's willingness to present only what is convenient for his appropriation of western philosophy.

Heidegger at his best
Martin Heidegger in this decisive work takes a little known author and "confronts" his work with his own understanding of Being as finite. The result is an amazing understanding of the finite human condition as freedon. This is authentic thought that does not wallow in morbidity nor escape to mere rationality or the romanticism of idealism. Heidegger fresh from working out his "Contributions to Philosophy:From Enowing" is fully engaged and moving on. Heidegger, gives adequate cautions through out the work so that our initial enthusiasm is not lost but becomes transformed into a silent "yes" that can refresh us for some time to come. Stambaugh, thoroughly versed in translating for her readers and those that want to read Heidegger, also provides an extensive appendix that is a "gold mine" for rereading all of Heideggers works. This appendix is almost like "notes from the underground". Though Heidegger might not approve of such terms he would nevertheless understand. Make no mistake, Heidegger has not forgotten his own history (son of a sexton) nor the history of Western thought. This history is fully put to the task of working out his own thought, that of Schelling and the resulting transformations in both understand the translator and the reader. If you try to "figure" this work out you will miss the poetry. If you "simply love" this work you may too easily move on to the "next thing" that is exciting. Are you ready? ... Read more

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"The Metaphysical Presuppositions of Being-in-the-World" brings St. Thomas Aquinas and Martin Heidegger into dialogue and argues for the necessity of Christian philosophy. Through the confrontation of Heideggerian and Thomist thought, it offers an original and comprehensive rethinking of the nature of temporality and the origins of metaphysical inquiry. The book is a careful treatment of the inception and deterioration of the four-fold presuppositions of Thomistic metaphysics: intentionality, causality, finitude, ananke stenai. The analysis of the four-fold has never before been done and it is a central and original contribution of Gilson's book. The four-fold penetrates the issues between the phenomenological approach and the metaphysical vision to arrive at their core and irreconcilable difference. Heidegger's attempt to utilize the fourfold to extrude theology from ontology provides the necessary interpretive impetus to revisit the radical and often misunderstood metaphysics of St. Thomas, through such problems as aeviternity, non-being and tragedy. ... Read more

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A Profound Meditation on God and Being

I have never seen an interpretation of Heidegger in this manner; it is original, passionate and groundbreaking though not without its interpretive cracks. I am not in full agreement with her notion of Kantian finitude nor of certain aspects of her Husserl chapter. I find her understanding of the later Heidegger, her notion of a primal idealism and the interpretive possibilities of the fourfold to be flawless, perhaps without compare. Her epilogue on Christianity and tragedy is substantial, indeed radical; it raises the book to a whole new level. This brief and startling meditation on Christian tragedy requires a sustained treatment. An epilogue is not sufficient. The book is profound, it has exceeded my expectations.
... Read more

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Pocas filosofias contemporaneas han llegado a vincularse hacia multiples campos del conocimiento como la de Martin Heidegger, entre esos campos se encuentran el existencialismo de Sartre, la linguistica moderna, el estructuralismo, la semiotica, la teologia, la teoria literaria y la literatura. ... Read more

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Martin Heidegger is one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. His later writings are profoundly original and innovative, giving rise to much of postmodernist thinking, yet they are infamously difficult to approach. Heidegger's Later Writings: A Reader's Guide offers a concise and accessible introduction to eight of Heidegger's most important essays. These essays cover many of the central topics of his later thought and are conveniently gathered in Basic Writings, making this Guide a perfect companion. Written specifically to help students coming to these texts for the first time, each chapter illuminates a particular essay's structure to enable readers to start finding their own way through the text. The book offers guidance on: - Philosophical and historical context - Key themes - Reading the text - Reception and influence - Further reading ... Read more

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Masterful introduction to a difficult set of texts

It is surprising that this book has not attracted more attention. As an introduction to Heidegger's notoriously difficult later texts there is nothing else like it. Braver bases his essays on Krell's Basic Writings making this the perfect companion text to a course on the later Heidegger. Braver's style is clear, precise and sympathetic to the struggles that the reader will most certainly be having with Heidegger's difficult style. He manages to pull off the difficult task of pushing the reader toward Heidegger's texts rather than away (as many such introductions do by outlining the difficulties over the benefits).Rather than replacing the direct reading of Heidegger it acts as a spur to delve into the essays themselves. There is no mystification of Heidegger here and for that we can be thankful.

Although the work is clearly aimed at students (and by extension teachers) Braver does not reduce Heidegger down to the bare bones. In fact nothing important is excluded here or at least nothing a non-specialist requires for gaining a foothold. The important ideas are explained but in such a manner that nothing is explained away. This might give the impression that there is nothing to be gained here for specialists, but that is incorrect. I found myself discovering all kinds of details hidden in Braver's notes and in some cases Braver's conclusions have forced me to re-consider my own assumptions about what these essays mean. There are three kinds of people who should own this book (1) students both undergraduate and graduate trying to make sense of the later Heidegger (2) teachers who should certainly consider it a potential classroom text to accompany a course on the later Heidegger alongside Krell's Basic Writings (3) Heidegger scholars who tend to ignore the later essays as mytho-poetic or downright weird. I, for one, have had to re-evaluate my own position of the later writings based on this book and therefore I cannot recommend it enough.

Understanding Heidegger on Art, Language, and Technology
This book is designed to be a handy companion to Heidegger's BASIC WRITINGS (edited by Krell) which has been used in philosophy classrooms for over thirty years now.Professor Braver give us readers concise and lucid summaries of each essay's themes and arguments and, when needed, just the right amount of historical context (Heidegger vs Aristotle, Heidegger vs Kant).I just wish I had had this reader's guide twenty-five years ago when I was a bewildered undergraduate philosophy major. ... Read more

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Provides a new approach to the psychology of human development by integrating psychological and philosophical insights on human virtue and authentic selfhood. Presents Erikson's contributions within the more general "Care Structure," described by Heidegger as the central structure of human existence. The major effect of this broader understanding is to give new meaning to Erikson's schedule of virtues, to see them as the central structures organizing the themes and experiences of specific stages of development. ... Read more

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Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

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Philosophy, some on poetry, with a great ending
This is a good book for introducing a form of thinking that may be called for on special occasions, when people have to consider what is not truly mundane.My second-hand copy of this book, the Gateway edition, published 1979, based on the First American edition published 1949, begins with a long attempt to explain Heidegger's main early work, BEING AND TIME, Part I.(1927).Way back then "only the first two out of six planned sections of the book were published."(p. 8).I thought that the explanation by Werner Brock took too long to get to the items by Heidegger which finally appear from page 233 to the end of this book.As an example of the explanation for what is included, I would like to quote the following paragraph:

Some of the critics seem to think that there has been a considerable change in Heidegger's outlook, if not immediately after the publication of "Being and Time," at least since the first essay on Hoelderlin (1936).I for one do not share in this opinion.In my view, the themes of all the four essays, but especially of the two philosophical ones, are directly and most intimately related to "Being and Time," but not so much to the first two published Sections as rather to the third one on "Time and Being."(p. 119).

Heidegger's Inaugural Lecture, "What is Metaphysics?" is included at the end of this book.On page 349, an undated "Postscript" admits that "The question `What is Metaphysics?' remains a question.For those who persevere with this question the following postscript is more of a foreword."The obstacles encountered in the preceding lecture are described as "good.It will make our questioning more genuine."(p. 351).The first of the "misgivings and misconceptions to which the lecture gives rise" has been "The lecture makes `Nothing' the sole subject of metaphysics."(p. 352).The other problems are explained as mood problems we acquire when we do not "shut our ears to the soundless voice which attunes us to the horrors of the abyss" (p. 354) through such a concept."Without Being, whose unfathomable and manifest essence is vouchsafed us by Nothing in essential dread, everything that `is' would remain in Beinglessness."(pp. 353-354).

After long consideration of "Nothing, conceived as the pure `Other' than what-is, is the veil of Being," (p. 360) comes some ancient Greek described as the last poem of a tragedy, "Oedipus in Colonos" by Sophocles, and at last, an English translation that also seems fair enough to be remembered on Memorial Day, 2003:

But cease now, and nevermore
Lift up the lament:
For all this is determined. ... Read more

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The thirteen essays in this volume represent the most sustained investigation, in any language, of the connections between Heidegger's thought and the tradition of transcendental philosophy inaugurated by Kant. This collection examines Heidegger's stand on central themes of transcendental philosophy: subjectivity, judgment, intentionality, truth, practice, and idealism. Several essays in the volume also explore hitherto hidden connections between Heidegger's later "post-metaphysicalthinking--where he develops a "topological" approach that draws as much upon poetry as upon the philosophical tradition--and the transcendental project of grasping the conditions that make experience of a meaningful world possible. This volume will interest philosophers in the continental tradition, where Heidegger's thought has long had a central role, as well as those many philosophers in the analytic tradition whose own approach to knowledge, semantics, and philosophy of mind traces its roots to Kant. ... Read more

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Martin Heidegger is, perhaps, the most controversial philosopher of the twentieth-century. Little has been written on him or about his work and its significance for educational thought. This unique collection by a group of international scholars reexamines Heidegger's work and its legacy for educational thought. ... Read more