Correspondence 1949-1975

by Martin Heidegger, Ernst Jünger, Timothy Sean Quinn (Translator)

Beginning in 1949, the German novelist and essayist Ernst Jünger began a correspondence with the philosopher Martin Heidegger that lasted until Heidegger's death in 1975. This volume contains the first English translation of their complete correspondence, as well as letters from Heidegger's wife and son and others referred to in their correspondence. It also contains a translation of Jünger's essay Across the Line (Über die Linie), his contribution to a Festschrift celebrating Heidegger's sixtieth birthday. Jünger's and Heidegger's correspondence is of enormous historical interest, revealing how both men came to understand their cultural roles in post-war Europe. It is valuable as well for showing the emergence of themes pervasive in Heidegger's post-war thought: his cultural and political pessimism and his concern with the problem of global technology. The correspondence also reveals the evolution of a philosophical friendship between two writers central to twentieth century European thought, and the mutual influence that friendship worked on their writing."

Genres: Philosophy, Germany, Nonfiction

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was a German philosopher whose work is perhaps most readily associated with phenomenology and existentialism, although his thinking should be identified as part of such philosophical movements only with extreme care and qualification. His ideas have exerted a seminal influence on the development of contemporary European philosophy. They have also had an impact far beyond philosophy, for example in architectural theory (see e.g., Sharr 2007), literary criticism (see e.g., Ziarek 1989), theology (see e.g., Caputo 1993), psychotherapy (see e.g., Binswanger 1943/1964, Guignon 1993) and cognitive science (see e.g., Dreyfus 1992, 2008; Wheeler 2005; Kiverstein and Wheeler forthcoming).

Reviews

[Vladivostok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voyeuristic and completely fascinating to read through the personal correspondences of two friends who also happened to be among the greatest minds to ever have walked this earth.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and easy read. It gives an intimate glimpse at the beginning and at the friendship between two profound and anti-modern thinkers. The topics include nihilism, Nietzsche, their role following World War II, their previous political involvement and enemies, friends and admirers, philosophy, and so on. It is funny to see how Junger asks Heidegger to explain some of his philosophical stands or concepts - like “the clearing of Being”- and the patience with which Heidegger does it.
Junger wrote “Across the Line”, dedicated, and sent it to Heidegger for his 60th birthday. It is surprising to notice how much of this – at least in terms of attitude and atmosphere – ended up in “The Question Concerning Technology”, including Holderlin's saying that “where danger is, grows the saving power also”.

[A YOGAM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der Briefwechsel zwischen Martin Heidegger und Ernst Jünger dokumentiert einen langjährigen intellektuellen Austausch und gewährt tiefe Einblicke in ihre gemeinsamen Reflexionen über die Verflachung der Sprache sowie den Verlust dialektaler Vielfalt in der Moderne. Neben persönlichen und organisatorischen Aspekten des schriftstellerischen Alltags entfaltet der Band zentrale philosophische Debatten der Nachkriegszeit, die durch Schlüsseltexte wie Über die Linie und Zur Seinsfrage kontextualisiert und vertieft werden.
Herausgegeben von Günter Figal, erweist sich das Werk als bedeutendes zeitgeschichtliches Dokument, das die intellektuelle Nähe und Spannung zwischen zwei prägenden Figuren des konservativ-revolutionären Denkens des 20. Jahrhunderts sichtbar macht und deren geistige Verbindung in ihrer historischen wie philosophischen Tragweite würdigt.

[Enrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is the nihilism, the disease of the century and the new way of life in a valueless world, is the main topic of this book.

Heidegger is very shy in his letters, but use his exegetical powers in a very useful example of hermeneutics applied to a simple text.

The letters had the nazi issue in the background most of the time, both thinkers doesn’t talk openly about it but it’s all time like a shadow the dark hand of a bad decision.

If you are conservative this book are going to help to understand a lot about nihilism, specially the Jungers essay.

[Sinclair von Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Etymologists know as little about language as Darwinists know about animals. The one strings together words, the other, species, and in the end there remains nothing more than thread, the dry measuring cord. Then they hang themselves from it."

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

cordial and superficial. some substance, particularly in the essay and the impromptu exegeses. makes for a hasty read, and rightly so

[Roger Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some conservatives are worth reading, even when you disagree with them.