Heidegger on Presence

This study surveys the meaning and status of 'presence' in Heidegger. The author argues that he maintains a critical perspective, and that his critique can be applied not only to the tradition as interpreted in his 'history of being,' but also to contemporary phenomena such as information technology.

List of contents

A Note on Citations; 1. How Does it Stand with Presence?; 2. The Meaning of 'Being'; 3. The Meaning of 'Presence'; 4. Heidegger's Developing Thought on Presence; 5. Presence in the History of Being; 6. Presence and Engagement; References.

Summary

Heidegger calls the thought that 'being is presence' the 'thunderbolt' that led him to link being and time and inspired his deconstruction of Western metaphysics. However, the scope of the concept of presence varies in his texts; the narrower it is, the more dramatic yet less plausible is his 'thunderbolt.' What is presence? Does Heidegger ultimately reject presence as the meaning of being, or does he accept it if conceived broadly enough? This study surveys the meaning and status of 'presence' in Heidegger. The author argues that he maintains a critical perspective, and that his critique can be applied not only to the tradition as interpreted in his 'history of being,' but also to contemporary phenomena such as information technology.

Foreword

Why does Heidegger say 'being is presence'? This Element explores his critical and appreciative thoughts on presence and its history.

Product details

• Authors: Richard Polt, Richard (Xavier University) Polt
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.04.2025
• EAN: 9781009550932
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0955093-2
• No. of pages: 76
• Series: Elements in the Philosophy of Martin Heidegger
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: antiquity to present day; History of Ideas, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, 20th Century, Philosophy, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Western philosophy from c 1800