Heidegger's Confrontation with Modernity: Technology, Politics, and Art

by Michael E. Zimmerman

"Writing in a lively and refreshingly clear American English, Zimmerman provides an uncompromisingly honest and judicious account . . . of Heidegger's views on technology and his involvement with National Socialism. . . . One of the most important books on Heidegger in recent years." ―John D. Caputo

" . . . superb . . . " ―Thomas Sheehan, The New York Review of Books

" . . . thorough and complex . . . " ―Choice

" . . . excellent guide to Heidegger as eco-philosopher." ―Radical Philosophy

" . . . engrossing, rich in substance . . . makes clear Heidegger's importance for the issue of technology, ethics, and politics." ―Religious Studies Review

The relation between Martin Heidegger's understanding of technology and his affiliation with and conception of National Socialism is the leading idea of this fascinating and revealing book. Zimmerman shows that the key to the relation between Heidegger's philosophy and his politics was his concern with the nature of working and production.

Genres: Philosophy, Technology

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Theo Austin-Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not exactly sure how you’d go about making this any better, perfectly good secondary literature on every topic listed in the title. Heidegger isn’t as original as I once thought, really rode the coat tails of reactionary modernists and post-Nietzsche figures who dug that whole Volk thing - his obsession with poetry is a little gay as well. Yeah Heidegger go on, say liberal democracies and authoritarian governments are metaphysically the same because they’re based within the technological epoch, tell me more about the idea that physis and the interplay of presence/absence has caused the clearing of the Will-to-Will infatuated Dasein to only be able to discover entities as mere standing-reserve, your little readings of Hölderlin inside your quaint little secluded cottage are definitely gonna save the day!!

[Leonard Houx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides Safranski's biography and Dreyfus' lectures on iTunes, this is probably the best secondary source on Heidegger I've read. Even on its own, the book is a thrilling work historical research. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the philosophy of technology.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

What were the preoccupations of philosophy for technology in the wake of Social-Nationalist rise to power? The book pierces through the thick historical plot of the National Socialist's rise, drawing on a rich and well-connected readings of the intellectual debates of the time. The salvation of a national soul shrank between two hypertrophic ideologies and the fear of the world's metamorphosis into a machine are among the alarming concerns of Heidegger's intellectual circle. The book sheds a flickering light in the historical context that brought to the 2nd world war's experience. It touches with historical and philosophical honesty the controversial commitment of Heidegger and a whole intellectual class to the Social-Nationalist utopia.

[Luna]

Need to reread as I only read a part that interested me so far.