Heidegger's Being and Time

by William Large

Being and Time, by Martin Heidegger, has had a direct impact on philosophers, artists, writers, and filmmakers. This guide takes readers through the book, section by section, idea by idea. It provides a much-needed and jargon-free introduction to this key text.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Chant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly written and takes the French Heideggerians seriously as much as analytic Heideggerians (Dreyfus/Blattner/Haugeland). The glossary of terms for Heidegger's neologisms in BT is a good little reference piece for anyone reading Being and Time.

[James Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this potent short guide on Martin Heidegger's notoriously difficult and mystifying magnum opus, "Being and Time" (Sein und Zeit), published in 1927. The German philosopher redefined the school of thought of Phenomenology developed by his teacher, Edmund Husserl, proposing that Western Philosophy has missed the mark on answering the ontological question of "(B)eing," initiated by Aristotle, related to time and existence per se. Dr. William Large's book speaks to those anticipating reading the work or philosophy students who are grappling with the massive text.

Phenomenology, pioneered by Husserl, sought to capture (and redefine) the essence of human experience and the manifestation of objects, epistemology and a theory of knowledge, and intentionality. Heidegger took the question of the "how" (instead of the "what") of objects and experience and existence back to the everyday immediacy of human existence and being, abstaining from metaphysics or abstract and secondary philosophical concepts and definitions: We do not conceptualize or try to define everyday objects in our world, we firstly encounter and use them as we would a "hammer" or "door." Historically, philosophy has relied on rigid definitions as being of primacy, while they are only secondary to everyday practical experiences and uses related to existence. In the notion of Dasein, "being-there," the philosopher made a revolutionary advance in the way that humans, who are "thrown" into the world and history, ought to approach themselves, other human beings, and objects in what essentially emerges from their Being (Dasein)- their "world."

Dr. Large, philosopher and lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire, has written a readable and friendly guide that introduces, disassembles, and elucidates the concepts and notions that comprise "Being and Time." As someone who has read bits of Heidegger here and there, as well as other guides on Heideggerian Phenomenology and books on his notorious politics, I found this guide to be the first book that really helped me to understand the famous work as well Heideggerian thought per se. Dr. Large appears to emerge from a French Heideggerian perspective, instead of Analytical, and leaves out much of the biographical baits and "gossip" found in so many books on the man. The tone of the book is optimistic, always helpful, practical, and exacting in its definitions of concepts. At the very end of the work, Dr. Large gives us a comprehensive annotated bibliography with information on the authors, glossary, and tips on writing about "Being and Time," as well as ways of reformulating the questions that a professor may ask a student on an essay test.

- Dr. James M Schmidt

[Onur Öztürk · Rating 5 out of 5]

best guide for beginners so far!

[Caomhghain · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent textbook style approach. It is not brilliantly written but it does cover the ground as a first introduction. Recommended

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is short and very introductory, but if you haven't read the Dreyfus or Blattner commentaries, this may be a good start. The suggested reading section at the end is great. Notice that Large comes from the French tradition, so he naturally focuses on the existentialist aspects more in Being and Time than the anti-cognitivist points that are more often raised, by Dreyfus, for instance...