Heidegger's Being and Time is a profound and influential philosophical masterpiece that attempts to answer an age-old and fundamental question from a new perspective: "What is being?" "The book has no storyline or rhetoric, but with its rigorous logic and profound insights, it takes the reader on a journey to explore the essence of human existence.
In this book, Heidegger proposes a central concept, "Dasein", which refers to the way of being. Unlike traditional philosophy, which universalizes existence, he is concerned with how concrete, living beings exist in the world and how they understand themselves and their surroundings. Heidegger emphasizes that the "being" is always in the world, and that our existence is not isolated, but intimately connected to the things around us, and that we exist in the world (In-der-Welt-sein).
In the book, Heidegger first criticizes the neglect of the problem of "being" in traditional philosophy, arguing that philosophy has long focused too much on the being (i.e., what concrete things are) and neglected being itself (i.e., the meaning of the existence of things). He argues that in order to truly understand "existence", we must start from the experience of human existence, because only human beings can ask questions about existing existence, and the way of human existence itself contains the search for the meaning of existence.
A key concept is "everydayness" (Alltäglichkeit), which refers to unreflected patterns of behaviour and understanding in people's daily lives. Heidegger points out that most of the time, we live in a state of "Verfallen", that is, we are bound by everyday trivialities and habits, without really realizing the nature of our being. However, it is precisely this "forgetfulness" of everyday life that prompts us to suddenly wake up at certain moments and begin to have fundamental questions about ourselves and the world, which is the theme of "Angst" and "death".
"Fear" is a feeling that arises when facing the bottomless abyss-like existence itself, which is different from the fear of a specific object, but a direct experience of the uncertainty of existence itself. This experience can wake up from the numbness of everyday life and begin to face up to one's own limitations. Death, as the most intrinsic possibility of "here-and-now", is the unique and irreplaceable end point of each person, which reminds us that the meaning of existence must be found and given by itself in a limited time.
Heidegger also introduced the concepts of "authenticity" (Eigentlichkeit) and "uneigentlichkeit" (non-authenticity) to discuss the way of human being. True existence means that individuals take the initiative to take responsibility for their own existence and bravely face the truth of existence, including their own ultimate death. Non-authentic beings go with the flow, act according to the general expectations and norms of society, and lose the opportunity for self-determination. Heidegger encourages us to pursue authenticity, which, although a difficult path, can help us better understand the truth about ourselves and the world.
The reading of Being and Time is undoubtedly a challenge, requiring the reader to think outside the box and go deep into the forefront of ontology. Heidegger's language is obscure, but this is his attempt to break through the boundaries of traditional language and get directly to the essence of being. Although this book does not provide simple and straightforward answers, it opens the door to reflect on how we live, our values, and our place in the world.
In short, Being and Time is not only a philosophical treatise, but also a profound exploration of the meaning of human existence. It reminds us that in the face of the transience of life and the complexity of the world, we should take the initiative to seek understanding and have the courage to take responsibility for our own existence, so as to live our truest and most meaningful selves in a limited time. Although Heidegger's thought is profound, its core message is of great value to everyone who seeks the meaning of life.
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