The Notion of Being in Martin Heidegger���s Philosophy

Heidegger argues that Nothing is what shapes Being generally. This reveals the most fundamental transcendent reality beyond all notions of what-is slipping over into what-is-not. The way in which Heidegger explains being is based upon a plethora of factors including psychological (the fear of death) existential (the question of purpose) and even sociological (the place of self with respect to others). Thus Heidegger demonstrates the relation of the self to historicity. He then stresses the importance of authenticity within historicity not to become merely a part of historicity itself which has no Dasein but to claim a Dasein as unique to the self. This is accomplished through a sense of being-unto-death which has a sense of finality and allows the self to view its being in respect to a limited existence within history. The importance of the mystical element in his phenomenology is carefully addressed and Stanley Rosen's work The Question of Being: A Reversal of Heidegger provides a useful and critical appraisal of the entire discussion. Philosophers and all others interested in interrogating the existential realities of the human person will find this book useful.