“Beyng-Historical Thinking” in Heidegger’s Contributions to Philosophy.pdf

3.BeyngHistoricalThinkinginHeideggersContributionstoPhilosophy

AlejandroVallega

IntheintroductorysectionofContributionstoPhilosophy(FromEnowning),Heideggersaysthatthistitledoesnotdefinenordoesitattempttospeakaboutsomething.ThethinkingofContributions,hestates,mayonlyoccurasanattempt(einVersuch)tothinkthequestionofthetruthofbeyngoutofitsoriginarygroundinatimeoftransition(bergang).Heideggersays,intheageofthecrossingfrommetaphysicsintobeinghistoricalthinking,onecanventureonlyanattempttothinkaccordingtoamoreoriginarybasicstancewithinthequestionofthetruthofbeyng.1ThisthinkinginthetransitionHeideggercallsabeynghistoricalthinking(seynsgeschichtlichesDenken).InthisessayItrytounderstandthemotionofthoughtbehindthisattempt,i.e.,howbeynghistoricalthinkingmaybeunderstoodnotjustasathinkingintransitionfromoneepochtoanotherbutinitselfastransitional(bergnglich),asathinkingofpassage.

Thisessayisdividedintofourparts.InthefirstIdirectmyattentiontothequestionofthematter(dieSache)giventobethoughtattheendofmetaphysics,andhowthistaskistakenupinContributions.2Inthesecond,inordertocomeclosertothetermbeynghistoricalthinkinginContributions,IpointoutHeideggersdistinctionbetweenhistoriography(Historie),andhistoryorhistoricaloccurrence(Geschichte).3Thisdifferentiationisthendevelopedinitsmoreessentialaspectinthethirdpart,whereIdiscussitstemporalfoundationbydiscussingitspassingandinceptualcharacter.InconsideringthetemporalcharacterofthethinkingofbeynginContributions,itbecomesclearthattheessentialswayingofbeyng(WesungdesSeyns)4occursasapassage(acomingtobeinpassingaway),andaleap(Sprung):aleapthatinitsoccurrencenotonlyenactstheunsettlingofanyconceptionofbeyngintermsofthelogicofpresencesandeverlasting,unchangeableessencesororigins,butoccursitselfasitsownunsettlingovercomingpassage.InthefinalpartIindicatethatContributions,withitsfugalstructure,enacts(vollzieht)thisleapofthepassageofbeyng.

AlmostattheClosure

Whatiftherewerenothingbehindtheappearing5thatwecallworld?Howwouldonethinkthisnothingness?Certainlynotintermsofthemetaphysicalstructuresthatwouldalwayssuggestsomethingelseeternalandunchangingunderneathorabovethesurfaceoftheappearing.Butthiswouldalsomeanthatthisnothingwouldnotbewhatis

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notpresence,whatissetagainstpresenceathand,sincethispresencewouldnolongerbedictatedbythetraditionalconfigurationsthatcouldgivemeaning,oressence,totheappearingasthewhatnessofwhatappears.Itwouldthenbeaquestionofacertainnothingnessneitherempty,asitmightbeunderstoodincontrasttothingspresentathand,norsenseless,asunderstoodincontrasttothelogicorreasonofmetaphysicsandtranscendentalphilosophies.Inotherwords,andotherwordswouldbeneededpreciselyinthelightofthequestionofthisnothingness,thequestionwouldbeoneofthinkingawayofbeingutterlyother:othertoobjectivepresenceandfact,othertotheconceptualconfigurationsofpresence,andothertothesufficientreasonthatsustainsthelogicofpresence.

WhenwelookatthebeginningofContributionswecanseethatHeideggersthinkingbeginsattheclosureofmetaphysics,i.e.,atthelimitofNietzschesthoughtofnihilism.InthefirstpagesofContributionsHeideggerreferstothetaskannouncedbythetitleofthebookasanattempt(Versuch)tothinkthequestionofthetruthofbeyngoutofitsoriginarygrounding.6Thisattemptoccursinthetimeofthetransition(Zeitalterdesbergangs)frommetaphysicstobeynghistoricalthinking.7ThethinkingofContributionsoccursassuchinacertaintransition(bergang).

InhislectureonNietzschesthinkingofnihilism,wintersemester1937/38,thetimeofthecompositionofContributions,HeideggerdirectlybroachesthesubjectofthetransitionfrommetaphysicstothebeynghistoricalthinkingofContributions.InthislectureHeideggerwrites,Thisendofthefirstbeginning(ersterAnfang)ofWesternphilosophyisNietzschefromhereandonlyfromheremusthisworkbedeveloped,ifitistobewhateachendmustbeatransition(bergang).8

NietzschesNihilism,theverydiscoverythatGodisdead,thatbehindtheappearingthereisnothing,isnotonlytheendofmetaphysics,butthisendremainstobethoughtinitsveryoccurrence(Ereignis)asthetransitionfrommetaphysics,thefirstbeginning,tobeynghistoricalthinking.

TheseemingoverlappingofNietzschesnihilismandHeideggersownthinkingdoesnotmarkadirectcontinuitybetweenthetwo.HeideggersthoughtonlytouchesonNietzscheatthelimitofNietzschesthinkingofnihilism.Later,inEuropeanNihilism,aseriesoflectureswrittenin1940aspartofHeideggersongoingmeditationonNietzsche,Heideggerwrites,

Theendofmetaphysicsdisclosesitselfasthecollapseofthereignofthetranscendentandtheidealthatsprangfromit.Buttheendofmetaphysicsdoesnotmeanthecessationofhistory(Geschichte).Itisthebeginning(Beginn)ofaseriousstrugglewiththatoccurrence(Ereignis):Godisdead9

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Theendofmetaphysicsdoesnotmeananend,acessationoftheoccurrence,Ereignis,orhistory,Geschichte,ofbeing.Fromnihilismwemightlearnthatmetaphysicsisnottoberepeatedbut,atthesametime,theendofmetaphysicscannotbeabandonedasifmeaningless.Totheendofmetaphysics,tothedeathofGod,belongsahistoricaloccurrencethatdoesnotstop,norend,andthatremainstobethoughtasitgivesitselftobethought.Thinkingwouldnowremain,staywith,whatisgiventobethoughtintheoccurrenceoftheendofmetaphysics:intheveryoccurrenceofthedeathofGod,whatisgiventobethoughtisthisdeathinitself,thisnothingness.AsHeideggerconcludes,Nietzschesthoughtmarksthebeginningofaseriousstrugglewiththatoccurrence[Ereignis]:thedeathofGod.ItisthisstruggletothinkinthedeathorabsenceofGodandmetaphysicalmeaningsthatisindicatedinthesupplementarytitletoContributions,whereHeideggerhasalreadysituatedthethinkingofthebookasoccurringoutofandinthisstruggle,asathinkingvomEreignis.10

ButNietzschesthoughtitselfonlyintimateswhatisgiventobethought.InTheWilltoPowerasArt,HeideggerexpresslystatesthatNietzschetakestheleadingquestion(Leitfrage)ofphilosophy,thequestionofthebeingofbeings,asthequestion,andneglectstoaskthegroundquestion(Grundfrage),thequestionofbeingassuch(WasistdasSeinselbst?).11AccordingtoHeidegger,withthedoctrineofthewilltopowerNietzschesthoughtwithdrawsfromhisowninsightconcerningnihilismandultimatelyremainsmetaphysical,thusfailingtoasktheessentialquestionofthetruthofbeingassuch.

BringingNietzschesrealizationthatthereisnothingbehindtheappearingoftheappearancestothegroundquestionofphilosophy(Grundfrage)wouldnotbeamatterofseekinganotherkindofaccounttobegivenaboutbeings.Rather,theveryquestionaskedwouldchange.12Inbringingnothingassuchintoquestion,onewouldhavetothinkthisappearinginitsoccurrence,assuch:thequestionwouldthenbethatoftheappearinginitsappearingassuch.BeynghistoricalthinkingasthethinkingofthetransitionwouldthinktheveryoccurrenceofthedeathofGoditwouldthinkwhatgivesitselftobethoughtinthispassageitwouldnotonlythinkinthelightoftheveryawarenessthatbehindtheappearancesthereisnothingbutitwouldthinkinthispassage,andoutofthisnothingness.

HighinthelowerAlpsliesasmallcemetery.Thereayoungmanisbeingburied,onewhowassoconsumedbylifeastopassawayatanearlyage.Thefuneralissimpleafewfriends,butmostlystrangerstotheyoungman,likemyself.Afterafewwordshavebeenspokenbyapriestandothershaverecalledtheyoungmanattherequestofhismother,theurnfilledwithhisashesisbroughttoitsrestingplace.As

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thecemeteryworkertriestosettheurninitsplaceinamarblewall,silencefallsuponallthosepresent.Someonebeginsaprayerdestinedtoreturntosilence.Silence.

Silence,andthen,aftersometime,voicesbegintoecho.Notunifiedvoicesinprayer,orrecollectionsofthedead,butconversationsthatspringfromuttersilence,echoesoutofsilenceconversationsasdiverseasthefoliageandflowersthatalmostoverrunthecemeteryandthemarblewall.Conversationsthatarefleetingandyetlightascloudsandsky.Conversationsamongststrangers,likemyselfwheredotheseelementalwordscomefrom?Howisitthatoutofsilencemightcomesuchdisclosureoflivingconfigurations?

InDieGeschichtedesSeyns[Thehistoryofbeyng],13aworkthatbelongstoContributionsaswellasexpandsit,onethatwascomposedimmediatelyafteritin1938/39,Heideggermakesthefollowingbriefremarkaboutbeynghistoricalthinking:

Thefirstleap(Sprung)ofthinkingthinks:Beyngisnothing(DasSeynistdasNichts).Nothingnothings(DasNichtsnichtet).14

IntheselinesweheartheradicaldifferencebetweenHeideggersthoughtandNietzsches,atleastasunderstoodbyHeidegger.15ForHeidegger,Nietzschesquestionofbeingisstillthequestionofthebeingnessofbeings,beingasthepresenceofbeingsoutoftheirneedtobe,aneedgatheredconceptuallybyNietzscheunderthefiverubricsthatformonemetaphysicalinterpretationofbeing.16ForHeideggerthequestionofbeyngisoutsidethelogicandnecessityofpresence:beyngisnotanything.TheabruptleapfromNietzschetoHeideggerismarkedbytheyofbeyng(Seyn).17Heideggersreturntothearchaicspellingofbeing(Sein)marksthisleap.Thisleapopensthequestionofbeynganew:beyngisnottobethoughtnowintermsofpresencebutasnothing.Heideggersays,DasNichtsnichtet.WecangetaglimpseofthequestionthathasopenedevenaswetranslatethisbriefpassageintoEnglish:nothingnothings.Itisnotnothingbutacertainoccurrence(Ereignis)thatisgiventobethought.Wemightrepeatthelastwordofthelastphrase,nothings,inanotherwaythatplacesitatthecenterofContributions:theexpressionnothingsrecallsustoourneedtothinkbeyngsessentialswaying(dieWesungdesSeynsselbst.)

InthisfirstsectionIhavesituatedthethinkinginContributionsattheclosure(nottheend)ofthehistoryofmetaphysics.Thisisasignificantmovebecauseitletsusseecertainfundamentalaspectsofbeynghistoricalthinking.Fromwhatwehavediscusseditisclearthatbeynghistoricalthinkingdoesnotoccurasthecontinuationoroutcomeof

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historiographicaldevelopments.Rather,ittakesplaceasareturningofthedeathofGodandtheclosureofthemetaphysicalinterpretationoftheworldasconstitutedbyadualismofchangingbeingsandunchangingbeing.Thisindicatesasecondcharacteristic.Beynghistoricalthinkinghasabeginningintheinterruptionofthemetaphysicalinterpretationoflivingconfiguratingevents,inthegapbetweenNietzschesWilltoPowerandHeideggersthinkingsaying,andintheleapwearecalledtomakeifwearetothinkthematterthatisgiventobethoughtbynihilismandyetremainswithoutarticulationinNietzsche.

Furthermore,thisproblematizationofnihilismbringswithittwoquestionsthatarealreadyindicatedbytheveryexpressionseynsgeschichtlich.IfinContributionsHeideggerthinksoutoftheclosureofmetaphysics,histhinkingmustoccurotherwisethanintermsoftheontologicaldifferencebetweenbeingsandbeing.Thisisthecaseforthemetaphysicalinterpretationofthisrelation,thedifferencebetweenchangingandunchangingessences,aswellasfortranscendentalarticulationsofbeyng,includingHeideggersowninBeingandTime.Therehespeaksofanontologicaldifferencebetweenentitiesathandandbeing.Indeed,theverytermseynsgeschichtlichindicatesasinglemotionofthought,asinglemattertobethoughtinthismotion,asingletemporaloccurrencebeyondthisontologicaldualism.

Thisalsomeansthatthedenselivingoccurrencesthathavebeeninterpretedastheobjectivefactsofhistoriographyorastheexpressionofalogicalmotionunderlyingit,arenowtoberethoughtandunderstoodforthemselves,intheirownoccurrence,i.e.,beyondtheirinterpretationaseitherobjectiveorlogical.Thequestionis,howarewetograspthetermbeynghistoricalthinking?

HistoricalBeyng,notHistoriography

AtthebeginningofContributions,Heideggerspeaksoftheworkinthebookasanattemptatabeynghistoricalthinking(seynsgeschichtlichesDenken).18ThetermistranslatedbyEmad/Malyasbeinghistoricalthinking.IprefertotranslateitintoEnglishasbeynghistoricalthinking.19ThewordthatistranslatedashistoricalinbothcasesisnotitsGermancognatehistorisches,butgeschichtliches.Heideggerschoiceissignificant.Geschichtlichesrefersnottothemeasurableandfactualtimeofobjectivepresenceanditshistoriography(Historie).20Rather,thewordattemptstosoundouttheveryoccurrence(Ereignis)ofappearingassuch,theessentialswayingofbeyngassuch(dieWesungdesSeynsselbst).

ThewordsgeschichtlichandGeschichtefindtheirverbalformingeschehen,whichmeanstooccur.Thethreetermsarerootedinthewordgiskiht,fromOldHighGerman.21Giskiht,asechoedingeschehen,bespeaks

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themomentaryandcontingentcharacterofanyevent,incident,orepisode.22Giskihtalsosoundsoutnotonlyparticularevents23buttheoccurrenceoftheirgatheringintoameaningfulwhole.24FromthisetymologywemayseethatGeschichteandgeschichtlichechotheoccurringofbeingsnotintheirdeterminateanalyzableobjectivity,notasthingsalreadydetermined,notasunchangingessences,butintheiressentialtemporality.Heideggerschoiceofwordsechoesanopening,momentaryandunpredictable,apassagethatisunanalyzableaswellasunpredictable,althoughgivenforthegatheringofbeingsintheirconfigurations.

ThisdifferentiationbetweenGeschichteandHistoriedoesnotbeginwithHeidegger.Wemaytraceitbacktotherootsofhermeneutics.ThedifferentiationisfirstmadebytheGermantheologianM.KhlerandisthensystematicallysustainedinthehermeneuticsofscripturefromDiltheytoBultmann.25InHeideggersownworkwefindthedifferentiationalreadymadeinthehermeneuticsofBeingandTime,wherehedifferentiatesspecificallybetweenthehistoricity(Geschichtlichkeit)oftheopeningofbeingasgivenwithdasein,andthehistoriographythatispossibleinthelightofthisdisclosingoccurrence.

Temporalityrevealsitselfasthehistoricity(Geschichtlichkeit)ofdasein.Thestatementthatdaseinishistoricalisconfirmedasanexistentialandontologicalfundamentalproposition.ItisfarremovedfrommerelyonticallyascertainingthefactthatDaseinoccursinaworldhistory(Weltgeschichte).Thehistoricityofdasein,however,isthegroundofapossiblehistoriographicalunderstanding(historischesVerstehen)thatinitsturnharborsthepossibilityofgettingaspecialgraspofthedevelopmentofhistoriographyasascience(HistoriealsWissenschaft).26

ThisarticulationofthedifferencebetweenHistorieandGeschichteremainslimitedbythetranscendentaldirectionofthedaseinanalytictowardanessentialtemporalground/horizoninBeingandTime,anditisthereforetoberethoughtinContributions.However,thedistinctionbetweenhistoriography(Historie)andtheoccurrence(Geschichte)ofbeingsintheopeningofbeyngmaybefollowedthroughtoContributionsandtracedbackfromContributionstothethinkingoftemporalitythatHeideggerisalreadycomingtoinBeingandTime.27

Thedifferentiationbetweenfactualhistory(Historie)andhistoricaloccurrenceassuch(Geschichte)isindicatedbyHeideggerslanguageinContributions.HeideggerspeaksinContributionsofbeynghistoricalthinkingasatransition(bergang),andhealsocallsthisthinkingathinkingunderway(Gedankengang).28InthesecondcaseHeideggeremphasizesthepassageofthinkingunderliningandseparatinggangfromGedanken.ThetwotermsdirectlyreferthethinkingofContributionstoHeideggersunderstandingofthewaybeyngisgiventobethoughtin

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Greekexperience.TheopeningofbeyngoccursfortheGreeksandisthusindicatedwiththewordphusis.ThiswordHeideggertakestoindicatetheveryWesungdesSeyns,thepassingincomingtobeofbeyng,translatedastheessentialswayingofbeing.29HeideggertranslatesphusisasAufgehen,orAufgang:awordthatrecallsthespringingforth,takingplace,comingoutthatechoesinphusis.30Thus,bergangandGedankengangrecalltheAufgang,thepassageintheveryoccurrenceofthecomingtobeinpassingawayofbeyng.

ThePassingofBeyngHistoricalThinking

Inthebeginningpart(Vorblick)ofContributions,Heideggerspeaksofbeynghistoricalthinkingasatransition(bergang)frommetaphysicstotheotherbeginningofthinking(derandereAnfangdesDenkens),31i.e.,fromtheinterpretationofbeingintermsofbeingsthatoccurswithGreekthoughtatthebeginningofourmetaphysicaltradition,totheotherbeginning.ThisthinkingmotionisforHeideggernotabridgebutathinkingthatitselfoccursasapassage.Heideggercallshisthinkingathinkingunderway(Gedankengang).32Thetermsfirst,other,andtransition,donotrefertotwopoints,anoriginanditsother,whicharetobebridgedbyacertaincrossingoverfromonelocationtoanotherinhistory.33HeideggersaysinContributionsthattheotherbeginningistheonlyotheroutofrelationtotheoneandonlyfirstbeginning[ausdemBezugzudemeinzigeinenunderstenAnfang].34Whatistobethoughtisasingleoccurrence,asinglepassage,theonlyoneandfirstbeginningofthinking.Beynghistoricalthinkingwouldoccurthenasanattemptatbeginning,anattemptataninceptualthinking,anattemptatananfnglichesDenken.35Therefore,inordertounderstandbeynghistoricalthinking,wewouldhavetoentertheplayofthisattemptingbeginning,wewouldhavetostandintheinbetweenthatistheplaceorpassageoftheoccurrenceofthisthinking.

HeideggerasksinContributions,Whatisthebeginning[Anfang]?Hereplies,

Itistheessentialswayingofbeingitself[dieWesungdesSeinsselbst].Butthisbeginningfirstbecomesenactableastheotherbeginninginitsencounter[Auseinandersetzung]withthefirst.Beginningunderstoodinceptually[anfnglichbegriffen]isbeyngitself.36

Inthispassagewefindtwoaspectsofbeginning(Anfang).Heideggerfirstsaysthatbeginningistheessentialswayingofbeyngitself.Butthenhegoesontomakethefollowingobservations:beginninginthesenseofbeyngitselfcanonlyoccurintheencounter(Auseinandersetzung)

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ofthefirstandotherbeginning.Thefirstandtheotherbeginningdonotdefinepointsinhistory,asifweweretoaccomplishamovefrompointAtopointB.37Itisintheencounteroffirstandotherbeginning,intheirplayingoffeachother,thattheyenacttheopeningofbeyng.Furthermore,whatHeideggerissayingisthattheoneandonlybeginningisbeyngitselfasitoccursintheplayencounteroffirstandotherbeginning.Thebeginning(Anfang),astheoneandonlybeginningbeingenacted,cannotbeunderstoodasanoriginthatisunchanging,becausebeyngcanonlyoccurinandasenactment(Vollzug).Inotherwords,thereisnotanunchangingoriginorbeginningtowhichthinkingmightreturn.38TodeepentheplayencounterofthebeginningsbyreducingthemtoarepresentationofacertainoriginaleventwouldbetolosepreciselythethoughtthattakesplaceinContributions.Theencounterofthefirstandotherbeginningcanbeunderstoodoutoftheoriginarytemporalityoftheopeningofbeyngitself.

GeschichtlichesDenken,thethinkingofthehistoryofbeyngassuch,occursotherwisethaninthetraditionalsenseofhistory,metaphysics,ortranscendentalphilosophy.Putinanotherway,beynghistoricalthinkingdoesnotoccurinthetermsofthelogicthathasheldandgivenmeaningtothetraditionsincetheGreeks.AsIhavepointedoutabove,accordingtoHeideggeritisthesettingupofacertainlogicofaffirmationandpresencethatreducesthequestionofbeingassuchtothequestionofthebeingnessofbeingsatthebeginningofGreekphilosophy.39Withthislogiccomestheintrinsicassociationofthequestionofbeingwiththatofproduction.AccordingtoHeideggeritisthisassociationofbeingassuchwithpoiesisandtechnethaterasesthequestionofthepassageofbeyng.Thisproductionorientedlogicthatisthenassumedandattributed,dictatedtobeing,isalsousedintheinterpretationoftemporality.Inthiswaytimeisdividedintopresent,past,andfuture,sectionsoftemporalitythatassuchmaketimemarchaccordingtothelogicofpresence,makeitquantifiable,fixable,andproducible.40

IfwenowgobacktothepassageonbeginningfromContributions,accordingtoHeidegger,theotherbeginningoccursinplaywiththeonlyoneandfirstbeginning.Thismeansthattheotherbeginningoccursalwaysandonlyalongwithafirstbeginning.Theotherbeginningcanonlymakeanysenseintheplaywiththefirstbeginning.Whatoccurshereisastrangeturn,areturnofthefirstbeginning.Isayreturnbecauseinthemotionofgoingovertotheotherbeginning,andsincetheotherbeginningcanonlyoccurinthelightofthefirst,theremustalwaysbeacertainrecallingofthefirstbeginning,acertainturningagainofthefirstbeginningthatunsettlesandovercomestheveryconceptofafirstunchangingorigin.

Theplayencounteroffirstandotherbeginningoccursonlyintheenactmentofanoriginaryeventthathasnometaphysicalorigin.Inthe

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returningmotionofbeynghistoricalthinking,nothingislefttooblivion,nothingremainsundisturbed.InthelastsectionofDieGeschichtedesSeyns,Heideggerwritesalistofenactments,ofmomentsofconfigurationofthehistoryofbeyng.Neartheend,referringtoHlderlinspoetry,Heideggerwritesasinglename,Mnemosyne.41Thisnamebringstomindmemoryandtemporality,butitdoessobyappealingtotheoverturningortransformativepowerinherentinmemorialevents.Mnemosyneisthenameoftheriverthatrunsoutsidethelogicofbeingsandtheirhistory:thenamemarksthemotionofariverthatrunsbackwards.Wemightconsiderthisrecallingoftheriverintryingtounderstandthemotionofthoughtbehindthegoingover.Tosaythatariverrunsbackwardsisnottosaythatariverrunsitscoursetoanendandthenreturnstoaneverpresentbeginningororigin.42ThereisnogeometricalpossibilityforMnemosyne.Toflowbackwardsistocontradictanylinearorobjectivetemporallogic.Ariverflowingbackwardsdefeatsanyteleologyorprojectedhorizon,sinceinitsmotionitgoesbackonlyingoingforward,andatthesametime,itgoesforwardonlybyclaimingitspast,itsorigin.Furthermore,itsgoingbackwardsisagoingonthatinmovingtowardthepastdecenterseveryoccurrenceinthatpast,sothatthegoingonisatonceanappropriationanddecenteringofallorigins.43

Infiguringthisreturningorovercomingmotionofbeynghistoricalthinking,wearenowspeakingofthemotionbywhichwhatremainstheunthinkableempty,ornothing,inthetraditionofmetaphysics,isbroughtforthasthemattertobethoughtifbeyngassuchistobethought.Witheachreturning,thefirstbeginningisbroughtforthnotintherepetitionofanunchangingoriginbutintheopeningpossibilityoftheeventofalteritythatisinherenttoitsoccurrence.OnemightthinkbacktothedeathofGodandhowforHeideggerthisisnottheendofhistory,theclosureofthequestionofessence,butamomentofpassagegiventobeunderstood,withstood,andundergoneinitsfulldensityandconcretenessasthemattertobethoughtisgiveninthatdeath,i.e.,initsdensitythinkinghasnoclosureintheovercomingmotionoftheessentialswayingofbeing.ThisiswhatHeideggerispointingoutwhenhesaysinGeschichtedesSeyns,DasNichtsnichtet.44

Becausenothingdoesnothaveaplaceinthelogicofbeings,thisotherness,arisenintheovercomingmotionofthehistoryofbeyng,cannotbereinscribedintothefirstmetaphysicalbeginning.Sincethefirstbeginninghasitselfbeenrecalledinthelightofitsotherness,andthisothernesscannotbethoughtintermsofit,thefirstbeginningwoulditselfbethinkableotherwisethaninthetraditionalway.Butthiswouldbebecausewhatgivesitselftobethoughtisnolongerthebeingofbeingsbutthepassageofbeynginitstruth(dieWahrheitdesSeyns).45

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Thisunsettlingorovercomingmotionischaracteristicofbeynghistoricalthinking.Inthinkinginthisreturnwecometoapassagethat,inenactingitstakingplace,hasalwaysalreadygoneoutside,beyonditsoriginaryoccurrenceortoputitinversely,thepassageofbeyngalwaysmustremainunsurpassable,sinceitsbeginninghasalwaysalreadybeenovercomebyitsveryoccurrence.Intheopennessoftemporalityassuch,orderingbelongsnottologicandproductionbuttotemporalityinitsonesingleopeninginwhichpast,present,andfutureareatplayatonce.

WefindthischaracteristicreturningofbeynghistoricalthinkingindicatedinthefirstpartofContributions,whereHeideggersaysthatThethinkingofthefutureisathinkingunderway(Gedankengang).46Inthelightoftheovercomingcharacterofbeynghistoricalthinking,wecannowsaythatthethinkingtocome47isnotsomeotheraccountofbeing.Rather,itisathinkingtocomebecauseitmustinhabititsplaceinthefuturebyundergoingitsownpassing,bybeingathinkingthatinitsovercomingpassingmustalwaysremainunderway.ButthatHeideggerwouldindicatethatbeynghistoricalthinkingisaGedankengangindicatesthathisthinkinginContributionsisathinkingthatoccursintheawarenessofthisovercomingcharacterofthethinkingofbeyng.Wearespeakingofathinkingthatoccursinitsawarenessofitsoccurrenceoutofphusis(Aufgehen),athinkingthatoccursintheenactmentofitsownpassage.Whatwediscoverhereisthatindeed,HeideggersthoughtinContributionsisnotapassagetowardahorizonthatawaitsit,noranostalgicreturntotheGreeks.AsHeideggersaysinthePreview,Wearealreadymovingwithinanothertruth,evenaswearestillinthecrossing.48Whatbeynghistoricalthinkingindicatesisanovercomingmotionthatmarksinitspassageanopening,aninceptivemomentthatassuchenactstheopeningmotionofathinkingsayingthatinitsquestioningkeepsopenthepossibilityofbeyngoutofitsessentialsway.Therestofthissectionwillbedevotedtofurtherclarificationofthisstatement.

InContributionsHeideggerspeaksofbeginning(Anfang).Furthermore,beynghistoricalthinkingisitselfinseparablefromthenotionofbeginning(Anfang),sincethisthinkingoccursasananfnglichesDenken(inceptivethinking).Therefore,theissueisnowhowtounderstandHeideggersnotionofbeginning.Inapassagealreadycited,HeideggersaysthatBeginning(Anfang)understoodinceptuallyisbeyngitself.ThisbringsustothesecondaspectofAnfang.Insection242ofContributions,Heideggersays,thetruth[ofbeyng]asgroundgroundsoriginarilyasabground.49Thismeansthatthetruthofbeyngoccursasanungroundedgroundingmotion.Thisalsomeansthatinorderto

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understandAnfangwewouldhavetoseekitinthelightoftheessentialswayofbeynginitstruthinenowning(Ereignis).

Beforegoingonwemightkeepinmindwhatisnotimpliedbythewordungrounding.Weshouldbecarefulandnotpresupposeagroundthatmustbetherefirstinorderfortheungroundingtooccur,andweshouldalsobecarefulnottounderstandthisungroundingcharacterofgroundasanabsenceofgrounding.Inotherwords,ungroundingisbeingspokenofinthetransitionfrommetaphysicsandisthereforenotmeantasagroundinthemetaphysicalortranscendentalsenseatthesametime,itisintroducedintheconcretesenseofageschichtlicheGrndung,aconcretelivingoccurrencethatisnotanimmovablegroundbutdoesoccurasgroundinginthefulltemporalandfinitesense.

Theabground,orungroundingofbeyng,occursasatwofoldmotion.ItoccursasEntrckungandasBerckung.50Entrckungreferstothewithdrawingaspectofthetruthofbeyng,51whereasBerckungreferstotherisingorcomingoutthatoccursinthatwithdrawal.AsifIweretounderstandmybeinghere,nowtemporallyandspatiallyasasinglepassageconstitutedbythisfallingrising,i.e.,notasthebeingofanentitythatcanexerciseitsgravitybyfallingandreactwithastonishment,52notasanentitybetweendeathandlife,butastheoccurrenceofbeinginsinglepassageincomingtobeincomingtopass.Itisthisfallingrisingmotionofbeyngthatcharacterizesbeynghistoricalthinking.Itisinthismotionintheoccurrenceofbeyngthatbeynghistoricalthinkingappearsasthethinkingofbeyng,athinkingfromenowning(vomEreignis).

Itisintheresounding(Anklang)ofthisfallingrisingofbeynginitsessentialswaythatbeynghistoricalthinkingoccurs(ereignet).53Atthesametime,thisthinkingisanenactingthinkingbecauseitoccursinthisresoundinginatimespaceplayinwhichbeyngsessentialswayisheldopentoitspossibility.Thisdoublemotionofbeingheldinthesoundingoutofbeyngandholdingopeninthisattentivenessthepossibilityofitseventisthewaybeynghistoricalthinkingcanbeunderstoodfromenowning(Ereignis).54Heideggerindicatesthisdifficultplayofbeyngandbeynghistoricalthinkinginsection21,InceptualThinking(ProjectingOpen),wherehesays,Theprojectingopenunfoldsthethrowerandatthesametimeseizesitwithinwhatopensup.55

WhenHeideggersaysthatunderstoodinceptually,beginning(Anfang)isbeyngitself(istdasSeynselbst),56heispointingpreciselytothisdoubleplay,totheveryoccurrenceofbeynginEreignis(enowning)astheopeningheldfastbytheinsistenceofathinkingquestioningthatinitsremainingwiththequestioniscaughtandheldbytheprojectingopenofbeynginitsunfolding.TherootofAnfangisfangen,averbthatmeanscapturing,holding.Anfangisbeyngitselfasitoccursinthe

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beingheldandholdingintheopennessofitsessentiallyswayingungroundedgroundingoccurrence.Theword,beginning,understoodinceptiblymarksthepassingfallingrisingmotionofbeyngasheldopeninitspossibilitybybeynghistoricalthinking.

Thecharacterofbeynghistoricalthinkingasinceptualthinking(anfnglichesDenken)isthereforetwofold.Beynghistoricalthinkingoccursoutoftheessentialswayinginthetruthofbeyng.Butasthistruthoccursasenowning(Ereignis),inthefallingrisingofitsoccurrence,beynghistoricalthinkingisathinkingenactingofthisungroundingmotion,athinkingthatwouldletresoundinitsopennessapassing,ratherthanpresentastoryaboutbeingsoranymetaphysicalortranscendentalsystem.

Thatwhereupontheleap,inopeningup,leapsfirstbecomesgroundthroughtheleaptheselfbecomesproperlyitsownintheleap57

IfweweretothinkfromEreignis,intheoccurrence(Geschehen)ofbeyng,ifweweretothinkfromwithinthemotionofthepassageofbeyng,werewetothinknothing,wewouldhavetothinkinthefaceofthedifficultyoftheungroundedcharacterofbeyng,andalsotherefore,intheawarenessoftheungroundingcharacterofitsthinking,thethinkingofbeyng.Thismeansthatthinkingwouldoccurinutterplay,inafreefallingleapthatwouldoccurinitsfreefalling,bothinandoutoftheveryenactmentofitsungroundedgrounding.And,itwouldmean,almostattheend,thatthinkingwouldremaininthatunbridgeableleap(Sprung)appearinginourspeaking,makingpresentandinthatnothingnessoutofwhich,andinattunementtowhich,anyspeakingwouldoccur.Beynghistoricalthinkingwouldthenbethisspeakinginthepassingswayofbeyng.

EnactmentsofBeyng

Theovercomingmotionofbeynginitspassingcallsnotforastoryaboutbeings58butforanenactment(Vollzug)59thatassuchwouldremainintheopennessofthispassingbyundergoingthefallingrisingofbeynginitsoccurring(Geschehen).Contributionsoccursassuchenactment.ThisiswhatHeideggerindicateswheninthelastsentenceofthefirstpagehesaysthatthethinkingsayingthatbelongstotheenowningofbeyngisthewordofbeyng[indasWortdesSeyns].60InTheHistoryofBeyngHeideggerhasmoretosayabouttheofbeyng.Hesays,

4.thewordofbeyng.5.thebeynghistoricalgenitive(Notgenitivusobjectusandsubjectus).61

Ofismeanttoindicatetheopennessofthinkinginitsenactment,

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initsattempting(Versuch)athinkingthatinitspassageisenownedbyitscomingtobeinpassingawayinbeyng.ItisbeynghistoricalthinkingthatContributionsenactswithitsfugalstructure:abookwrittenasarepeatingofthesamebeginningineachofitssixsections,ormovements.62Thesemovementsarenotgatheredintoasystem.Rather,theyremainintheopenplayofthetemporalityofthepassageofbeyngbygivingthesesixvariations.Inunderstandingbeynghistoricalthinkinginitstemporality,onewouldthinkthatContributionsisneitherasystem,norahandfulofmeditations,butaworkunifiedinitsremainingintheveryopennessofthepassingofbeyng,inremainingintheawarenessofaleapthatwouldalwaysbeunreachedinitsownevent.

Butif,asIhavesuggested,Contributionsenactsthetemporalizingpassageofbeyngsessentialsway,itdoessoconcretely.Thisisprimarilywhatenactmentwouldsuggest,athinkingundergoingofbeynginitspassingmotion.Indeed,HeideggerindicatesinthesectionofContributionstitledGrndungthatitiswiththeholdingopenofthequestionofbeynginitsspacetimeleeway(ZeitRaumSpiel)thatthedecision(Entscheidung)ofbeyngsessentialswaywouldoccur.63Inspeakingofbeynghistoricalthinking,wehavebeenspeakingintheconfiguringmotionofbeynginitsconcreteoccurring.Thismotionstandsoutsidethematerialidealdualismofmetaphysicsandtranscendentalphilosophiesandatthesametimeplacesthinkingintheveryoccurrenceofbeyngsessentialswayintheconfiguringpassingofwords,worksofart,things,bodies,identities,communitiesallofwhichnowremainstobethought.

Notes

1.GA65,3CP,3.Forbibliographicalinformationonthetextsreferredtohere,seetheintroductiontothisvolume,note1.WhenIusemyowntranslationofentirepassagesorparticularterms,IgivetheEmad/Malytranslationinanote.

IhavechosentotranslateSeynasbeyngandnotasbeing.ThischoiceisinpartawayofmarkingtheleapHeideggerismakingfromSeintoSeyn,wherethetermsalthoughdifferentiated,stillrecalleachother.

2.Thisisalreadyannouncedinthesameparagraphabove,whereHeideggerspeaksofthematterthatisalreadyintimatedbythetitleofthework:AberderffentlicheTitelentsprichtauchinsofernderSache.

3.IhavechosentouseStambaughstranslationofHistorieasHistoriography,andofGeschichteashistory.SeeMartinHeidegger,BeingandTime,trans.JoanStambaugh(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1996.)AsEmadandMalypointout,differentiatingthesetwotermsiscentraltothereadingofContributions.Thetranslatorsmarkthisdifferencebyusinghistoryforbothwords,buttheyindicateHistoriebywritingitinparenthesesfollowingtheEnglishwordhistory(TranslatorsForeword,CP,xxiixxiii).Ihavealsoadded

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occurrencetoStambaughsuseofhistoryfortheGermanGeschichte.ThisIfindhelpfulinatleasttwoways.First,thiswordreferstoevent,incident,andepisode.ThusthetemporalandpassingcharacterofGeschichte,aswellasitsparticularityastheoccurrenceofbeyngareputintoplay.Also,occurrencerelatesGeschichtetoEreignisinthesenseoftheopeningofbeynginitsparticulargivenness,andnotonlyintermsofEreignisasEvent,awordthatalreadysuggeststheplacementoftheGeschichtedesSeynsandseynsgeschichtlichesDenkenintoagrandhistoriographicalscale.

4.ThetranslationofWesenandWesungrequirescarefulconsideration,givenHeideggersparticularandvarioususesoftheseterms(seeEmadandMalysdiscussionintheirforeword,CP,xxivxxvi).AsEmadandMalypointout,thechoiceofessentialswayandessentialswaying,respectively,isnotidealbutitdoespointbothtothedynamiccharacteraswellastotheparticularphysicalityoftheoccurrenceofbeyng.WhenIspeakofphysicality,ImeantheresonanceofphusisthatisalwaysatplayinHeideggersbeynghistoricalthinking.HowWesungbringsthisphysicalityintoplaymaybeinferred,forexample,fromthefactthatinGermanusage,WesungisnotidentifiedwithsuchanontologicaldeterminationofbeingasthatindicatedbydasWesen,atermtraditionallyusedinGermanasanalogoustoessentiaeandindirectcontrasttoabeingsparticularwayofbeingorDasein.Wesunginsteadrecallspreciselythediverseconfiguringsofparticularlivingprocesses,as,forexample,inthewordVerwesung,whichmeansdecayordecomposition.

5.ThroughoutthisessayIspeakofpresenceasthepresenceofentitiesathand(Anwesen),andofappearingastheveryoccurrenceofappearing.

6.GA65,3CP,3.

7.Ibid.

8.GrundfragenderPhilosophie,GA45,133.

9.MartinHeidegger,Nietzsche:DereuropischeNihilismus(Pfullingen:GntherNeske,1989),p.25.MartinHeidegger,Nietzsche,vol.3,trans.FrankA.Capuzzi,DavidFarrellKrell,andJoanStambaugh,ed.DavidFarrellKrell(SanFrancisco:HarperSanFrancisco,1987),p.5.

10.EreignistranslatedasenowningreferstotheoccurrenceofbeyngasthoughtinContributions.

11.Heidegger,Nietzsche,ed.BrigitteSchillbach,vol.1,GA6.1(FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1996),pp.6465Heidegger,Nietzsche,vols.12,ed.Krell.

12.MartinHeidegger,SeinundZeit(Tbingen:MaxNiemeyerVerlag,1986),p.6(BeingandTime,trans.Stambaugh,p.5).

13.MartinHeidegger,DieGeschichtedesSeyns,ed.PeterTrawny,GA69(FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1998),p.173.

14.Ibid.,p.168.

15.InbringingtogetherHeideggersthoughtandNietzsches,wefindadifficultdoublestandard.Ontheonehand,HeideggerclaimsthatNietzschesthinkingremainsmetaphysicalintheformofthedoctrineofthewilltopower.Ontheotherhand,readotherwise,Nietzschesthoughtseemstoenactaselfovercomingmotionthatleadsitbeyondmetaphysics,onethatwefindinHeideggersthoughtinContributions.ItisthenaquestionnotonlyofNietzscheasthelastmetaphysicianandHeideggerasthethinkeroftheotherbeginning

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itisalso,andmoreinterestingly,aquestionofhowmuchofametaphysicalreadingNietzschesthoughtacceptsandhowmuchofaNietzscheanreadingHeideggersthoughtwithstands.Itisineachcaseaquestionofthinkingatthelimit.Inotherwords,thequestionoftherelationbetweenthesetwothinkersbelongstothelimitofthoughtinwhatgivesitselftobethoughtoutofthehistoryofbeyng(DieGeschichtedesSeyns),anditwouldonlybeincomingtothisbeynghistoricalthinking(seynsgeschichtlichesDenken)thatthequestioncouldbethoughtbyus.WefindHeideggersownattemptinhis1943lectureNietzschesWord:GodIsDead,alecturethatbringstogetherHeideggersworkonNietzscheduringtheyearsofthecompositionofContributions.(SeeMartinHeidegger,NietzschesWortGottistTod,inHolzwege,ed.FriedrichWilhelmvonHerrmann,GA5[FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1977]NietzschesWord:GodIsDead,inTheQuestionConcerningTechnologyandOtherEssays,trans.W.Lovitt[NewYork:Harper,1977]).

16.Thefivemainrubricswehavementionednihilism,evaluationofthevalueshitherto,willtopower,eternalrecurrenceofthesame,andovermaneachportrayNietzschesmetaphysicsfromjustoneperspective,althoughineachcaseitisaperspectivethatdefinesthewhole(Heidegger,Nietzschevol.4,Nihilism,FrankA.Capuzzi,ed.DavidFarrellKrell(SanFrancisco:HarperCollins,1987),p.9Heidegger,Nietzsche:DereuropischeNihilismus,vol.2,p.40.

17.Seenote4above.

18.Seenote2above.Cf.GA65,5CP,4:DasbergnglicheDenkenleistetdengrndendenEntwurfderWahrheitdesSeynsalsgeschichtlicheBesinnung.

19.Seenote17above.

20.GA65,32CP,23.GeschichtehiernichtgefatalseinBereichdasSeiendenunteranderen,sonderneinzigimBlickaufdieWesungdesSeynsselbst.

21.HistorischesWrterbuchderPhilosophie,vol.3,ed.J.Ritter(Darmstadt:WissenschaftlicheBuchgesellschaft,1974),p.352.

22.Ibid.:dasmomentane,zuflligeEreignis,derAnfangirgendeinesGeschehens.

23.Ibid.ThewordthatistranslatedintotheLatineventus,fromwhichwegetevent,isnotgiskehtbutanaskiht.GiskehtistranslatedintoLatinascasus.

24.Ibid.:nichtnurdieeinmaligeTatundSache,sondernaucheingrererEreigniszusammenhang.

25.Ibid.,pp.39899.WithregardtoDilthey,seesection77ofBeingandTime.

26.Heidegger,BeingandTime,trans.Stambaugh,Introduction,part2,section69,p.332SeinundZeit,p.305.SeealsoBeingandTime,Introduction,section6,TheTaskofDeconstructingtheHistoryofOntologyand,partII,chapter5,sections7277:TemporalityandHistoricity.

27.HereitisamatteroftakingHeideggerswordsconcerningBeingandTimeandtheturn(Kehre)mostrigorously.In1949,forthesecondeditionofVomWesenderWahrheit(1930),Heideggerappendstwofinalparagraphstotheearlierversion.ThereHeideggersays,DieAntwortaufdieFragenachdemWesenderWahrheitistdieSageeinerKehreinnerhalbderGeschichtedesSeyns(Theresponsetothequestionoftheessenceoftruthisthesayingofa

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turninginthehistoryofbeyng).Heideggerslanguageclearlyplaceshisthinkinginthethirties,andeveninBeingandTime(seethefinalparagraphofthe1949edition,beginning,DieentscheidendeFrage[SeinundZeit,1927]),withinthequestionofthehistoryofbeyng.HeideggerisnotonlysayingthisbuthemarksitbyusingSeyn,thearchaicformofSeinthatmarksHeideggersthinkinginContributions.Itwouldthenbepossible,andperhapsnecessary,notonlytoreadHeideggersthoughtasamotionfromearlytopostturnHeidegger,buttoreadbackwards,i.e.,forexample,lookingatBeingandTimeinthelightofHeideggersthoughtintheearlythirtiesandinContributions.(SeeOntheEssenceofTruth,BasicWritings,trans.JohnSallis,ed.DavidFarrellKrell[SanFrancisco:HarperCollins,1993]VomWesenderWahrheit[1930],Wegmarken[FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1978].)

28.GA65,34CP,34:DieBeitrgefragenineinerBahn.

29.Thistranslationkeepsthesenseofmotionofthecomingtobeinpassingofbeyng.ThereisinHeideggeracrucialdifferencebetweentheoccurrenceoftheopeningofbeyngasgiveninGreekexperience,phusis,andthemetaphysicalinterpretationofthisgivingnessthroughalogosofobjectivepresenceandcalculation.ThisawarenessofthedoubleplayofthetruthofbeyngintheGreekbeginningispresentthroughoutHeideggersthinkingconcerningGreekphilosophy.

30.Aletheia(Heraklit,Fragment16)(summersemester,1943),VortrgeundAufstze(Pfullingen:GntherNeske,1985),pp.16366Aletheia(Heraclitus,FragmentB16),EarlyGreekThinking,trans.DavidFarrellKrellandFrankA.Capuzzi(NewYork:HarperandRow,1975),p.114.Cf.MartinHeidegger,DerAnfangdesabendlndischenDenkens.Heraklit(summersemester,1943),inHeraklit,ed.ManfredS.Frings,GA55(FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1979),pp.12731.

31.GA65,34CP,35.

32.GA65,3CP,3.

33.WemightthinkhereofHeideggersdiscussionofthebridgeinBuilding,Dwelling,Thinking:Thebridgegatherstoitselfinitsownwayearthandsky,divinitiesandmortals.thebridgedoesnotfirstcometoalocaltostandinitratheralocalcomesintoexistenceonlybyvirtueofthebridge.Bythissitearedeterminedtheplacesandpathsbywhichaspaceisprovidedfor.Evenifthoughtweretoenactabridge,itwouldbethisthinkingthatwouldoccurasthegatheringforpastandfuture,anditwouldhavetobethoughtassuch.SeeBuilding,Dwelling,Thinking,BasicWritings,ed.Krell,pp.35363BauenWohnenDenken,VortrgeundAufstze,pp.14656.

34.GA65,5,translationminecf.CP,4.

35.Seesections2024:GA65,5561CP,3843.Cf.DerAnfangderabendlndischenPhilosophie(summersemester,1932),GA35.Throughoutthisessay,IhavefollowedtheEmad/MalytranslationofanfnglichasinceptualandanfnglichesDenkenasinceptualthinkingIhavedonesoinordertopointtothedynamicorpassingcharacteroftheoccurrencebeingthoughtandtothecharacterofthisthinkinginwhatHeideggercallstheleap(Sprung).

36.GA65,58,translationminecf.CP,41:Itistheessentialswayingofbeingitself.Butthisbeginningfirstbecomesenactableastheotherbeginningwhenthefirstbeginningisputintoproperperspective.Graspedinceptually,thebeginningisbeingitself.

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37.Insection117ofDieGeschichtedesSeyns(GA69),Heideggeralsostates,Thehistorical[historisch]neverletshistoryitself[Geschichte]beexperienced,letalonethought.Thisneitherresolvesnoreliminatesbutratheropensthequestionofthegatheringofthehistoricalinthinking.Foradiscussionofthisissue,see,forexample,PeterWarneksReadingPlatobeforePlatonism(AfterHeidegger),ResearchinPhenomenology27(1997).

38.HeideggerhasalreadymadethismoveinOntheEssenceofTruth(BasicWritings,ed.Krell)VomWesenderWahrheit(1930),Wegmarken.

39.HansGeorgGadamer,Plato,inHeideggersWays,trans.JohnW.Stanley(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1994)HeideggersWege(Tbingen:J.C.B.Mohr,1983).

40.LeonardoSamona,LAltroIniziodellaFilosofia,GiornalediMetafisica,NewSeries12(1990):80.

41.DieGeschichtedesSeyns(19381940),GA69,173.Cf.Heidegger,TheAnaximanderFragment,inEarlyGreekThinking,p.36DerSpruchdesAnaximander(1946),Holzwege,GA5,34549.

42.CharlesE.Scott,TheTimeofMemory(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1999).

43.WefindaformulationofthismotionalreadyinBeingandTime,whereHeideggerdiscussesitastheDestruktionderGeschichtederOntologie,section6,pp.1927.

44.GA69,168.

45.Inspeakingofpassageandthetruthofbeyng,wearealreadyapproachingthemotionofwithdrawalthatIdiscussinthenextsectionofthisessay.

46.GA65,3,translationminecf.CP,3.

47.InContributions,HeideggerspeaksoftheknftigeDenken(GA65,3)Thisdoesnotmeanthethinkingofafuturethatliesaheadrather,itreferstotheZukunft(future)initsdoublesenseofcomingtoandarrival,Ankunft.

48.GA65,18CP,14.

49.GA65,383CP,267.

50.GA65,385CP,268.

51.Heideggerhadalreadyintroducedthisthoughtofthewithdrawalofbeynginthethirties,inhisdiscussionsoftheGreektermaletheia,wherethelethicelementoftruthisfirstbroughttothequestionofthetruthofbeing.SeeGA65,329CP,23031.

52.Theastonishment(thaumadzein)oftheGreeksisforHeideggerthereductiveeventthatgroundsthefirstbeginning,i.e.,traditionalontologyandmetaphysics.HeideggertranslatestheGreektermasErstaunen(GA65,20CP,15).ThistermcanbecontrastedwithdasErschrecken,dieVerhaltenheit,anddieScheu,thegroundattunementsofthinkingintheotherbeginning.SeeGA65,14CP,11.

53.GA65,385CP,267.

54.GA65,386CP,268.

55.GA65,56CP,39.

56.Seenote39above.

57.GA65,303CP,214:Thisisgroundedintheleap.Thatuntowhichtheleapleapsinenopeningisfirstgroundedbytheleap.theselfonlybecomesitsownintheleap.

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58.SeinundZeit,p.6BeingandTime,trans.Stambaugh,p.5.

59.GA65,11CP,7.

60.GA65,3CP,3.

61.DieGeschichtedesSeyns,GA69,170.

62.GA65,1011CP,79.

63.SeepartV,GA65,37188:DieGrndung,DerZeitRaumalsderAbgrundCP,25976:Grounding,TimeSpaceasAbground.Cf.section5,GA65,17CP,13.OnEntscheidung,seeGA65andCP,section5partIII,dasZuspiel(PlayingForth)partVIII,sections266,268.

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Documents

“Beyng-Historical Thinking” in Heidegger’s Contributions to Philosophy.pdf