Comments on: … did I drink that cola so late at night for? http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/ A working notebook Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:38:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Kenneth Rufo http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1245 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:11:17 +0000 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1245 The Basic Writings is indeed a good primer and resource, so it's as good of a place to start as any. My only complaint about it is that there really are 2 or 3 stages in Heidegger's thinking, and it's difficult when seeing all of them side by side to really get a clear grasp on what he might be arguing, if only because a conclusion you may reach regarding an early essay may look totally different and even oppositional to what you read later. Still, that's bound to happen regardless, so it's more a question of speed than it is of direction. That being said, I'll still stress Introduction to Metaphysics as the opening gambit. It's a book but not very long, and it really does provide a good nutshell and clarification to moments in Being and Time. If you do end up reading it and you'd like to arrange a sort of cross-pollinated blog reading group, let me know, as I'd gladly join in a reading of that book. The Basic Writings is indeed a good primer and resource, so it’s as good of a place to start as any. My only complaint about it is that there really are 2 or 3 stages in Heidegger’s thinking, and it’s difficult when seeing all of them side by side to really get a clear grasp on what he might be arguing, if only because a conclusion you may reach regarding an early essay may look totally different and even oppositional to what you read later. Still, that’s bound to happen regardless, so it’s more a question of speed than it is of direction.

That being said, I’ll still stress Introduction to Metaphysics as the opening gambit. It’s a book but not very long, and it really does provide a good nutshell and clarification to moments in Being and Time. If you do end up reading it and you’d like to arrange a sort of cross-pollinated blog reading group, let me know, as I’d gladly join in a reading of that book.

]]> by: Barry http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1244 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:34:48 +0000 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1244 Heidegger is very difficult but elegant and occasionally brilliant. Start with the Basic Writings collection - it's cheap and easily available. If you fancy getting a headache, go for Being and Time. Read the Stambaugh translation. I've never been sure, though, that ontology gets us anywhere. Still, Herbert Marcuse was one of his students, and he reckoned (a version of) Heidegger's Existenz philosophy was a way of re-animating a moribund and reductionist Marxism. I'm not sure I agree, but there is something in it. Heidegger is very difficult but elegant and occasionally brilliant. Start with the Basic Writings collection - it’s cheap and easily available. If you fancy getting a headache, go for Being and Time. Read the Stambaugh translation.

I’ve never been sure, though, that ontology gets us anywhere. Still, Herbert Marcuse was one of his students, and he reckoned (a version of) Heidegger’s Existenz philosophy was a way of re-animating a moribund and reductionist Marxism. I’m not sure I agree, but there is something in it.

]]> by: Nate http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1239 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:48:38 +0000 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1239 Thanks Ken, I'll do that. Shorter essays would be great too if you can recommend any (unless some of the above are, I wouldn't know), as those are easy to manage in terms of reading load. Do you know if any of this stuff's online? best, Nate Thanks Ken, I’ll do that. Shorter essays would be great too if you can recommend any (unless some of the above are, I wouldn’t know), as those are easy to manage in terms of reading load. Do you know if any of this stuff’s online?
best,
Nate

]]> by: Kenneth Rufo http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1238 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:51:39 +0000 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1238 I'll second the Heidegger recommendation. He's much maligned and far less read. I'd actually recommend starting with Introduction to Metaphysics rather than Being and Time. It's still considered early Heidegger (before the Turn (Kehre) or before the First Turn, depending on which taxonomy you like), and it's a bit more succinct in the areas that would probably speak more directly to you (a judgment I'm making based on the content of discussions on this blog, for what that's worth). Hit Being and Time up at some point, to be sure - the analytic of Dasein is particularly well worth it, as is the ontology of the call of conscience - but don't worry if it's not your starting point. If you want to try something i the mid or post-Kehre Heidegger, I'd recommend Identity and Difference, or maybe What Is Thinking?, both of which are fine texts (though the first may be hard to unpack without a bit more Heidegger background). And I concur with John's colleague - if you do start up a Being and Time reading, Dreyfus's commentary is excellent and thorough, though perhaps not decisive. I’ll second the Heidegger recommendation. He’s much maligned and far less read. I’d actually recommend starting with Introduction to Metaphysics rather than Being and Time. It’s still considered early Heidegger (before the Turn (Kehre) or before the First Turn, depending on which taxonomy you like), and it’s a bit more succinct in the areas that would probably speak more directly to you (a judgment I’m making based on the content of discussions on this blog, for what that’s worth). Hit Being and Time up at some point, to be sure - the analytic of Dasein is particularly well worth it, as is the ontology of the call of conscience - but don’t worry if it’s not your starting point. If you want to try something i the mid or post-Kehre Heidegger, I’d recommend Identity and Difference, or maybe What Is Thinking?, both of which are fine texts (though the first may be hard to unpack without a bit more Heidegger background).

And I concur with John’s colleague - if you do start up a Being and Time reading, Dreyfus’s commentary is excellent and thorough, though perhaps not decisive.

]]> by: John http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1236 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:42:42 +0000 http://whatinthehell.blogsome.com/2007/02/28/did-i-drink-that-cola-so-late-at-night-for/#comment-1236 Good luck with heidegger, Nate. I've had Being & Time on my bookshelf for 5 years and only ever dipped in, but recently a work colleague (and former Stalinist!) friend of of mine told me I really HAD to read Heidegger and that Sartre and co. are poor imitations. He also recommended Hubert Dreyfus's commentary of B&T as a very useful introduction to Heidegger, so I got that too. Now all I need is a month off work. Good luck with heidegger, Nate. I’ve had Being & Time on my bookshelf for 5 years and only ever dipped in, but recently a work colleague (and former Stalinist!) friend of of mine told me I really HAD to read Heidegger and that Sartre and co. are poor imitations. He also recommended Hubert Dreyfus’s commentary of B&T as a very useful introduction to Heidegger, so I got that too.

Now all I need is a month off work.

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