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Martin Heidegger was an ordinary Nazi and a loyal member of the provincial petty bourgeoisie. He was also a seminal thinker of the Continental tradition and one of the twentieth century's most important philosophers. How are we to make sense of this mix? Should we factor Heidegger's domestic and political associations into our understanding of his thought, or should we treat his intellectual work independently of his abhorrent politics? How does any thinker reconcile the mundane with the ideal, or the pursuit of philosophical inquiry with the demands of civic engagement? In Heidegger, Alain Badiou and Barbara Cassin immerse themselves in the philosopher's correspondence to answer these questions as they relate to Heidegger and all thinkers vulnerable to their times. They focus on Heidegger's tormented relationship with his wife, Elfrida, Hannah Arendt, and numerous other women, bringing an unusual level of intimacy to his personal and intellectual worlds.
About the author
Alain Badiou, geb. 1937 ist Philosoph, Mathematiker, Dramaturg und Romancier. Seine politischen Aktivitäten drücken sich in der von ihm mitbegründeten 'Organisation politique' aus. Er lehrt an der Universität Paris VIII-Vincennes und am Collège International de Philosophie.
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"The book is conversational, with touches of personality and wit - a friendly battle between thinkers who know each other well, and respect each other enormously, despite their often considerable intellectual differences. It is refreshing to see such strong thinkers engaging with each other honestly and directly, without the slightest bit of hostility." - Kenneth Reinhard, University of California, Los Angeles
