I can certainly see Heidegger’s existential influence when he writes about the essential character of the German university being in its self-governance. This is especially evident when he explains that self governance means “to set ourselves the task and to determine ourselves the way and means of realizing that task in order to be what we ourselves ought to be.” However, it begins to sound a bit totalitarian to me when writes about the common will towards this essence. Is this a correct interpretation or am I missing something?
I agree with Heidegger’s critique of “academic freedom” especially when he talks of how it means “arbitrariness in one’s intentions and inclinations.” I would assume Heidegger would agree that this is an inauthentic use of our freedom. Consequently, I also agree with his statement that “to give law to oneself is the highest freedom.” That sounds authentic. However, I’m not sure how the three bonds and forms of service are developed from this “true” freedom.
This work, appears highly nationalistic, although it remains a comfortable distance from the usual racism and dehumanization of the “other” that historically accompanies fervent European nationalism. Instead, Heidegger seems to focus on the more positive side of nationalism, which is uplifting one’s countrymen to improve their existence. Heidegger appears to want to hold the Germans to a high standard of being, often referencing the Greeks, and then recognizing their failures in the realm of knowledge. Presumably he does this because he believes that the Germans are superior to the Greeks as thinkers (or at least they could be if they embrace his certain manner of thinking.) I know Nietzsche is commonly (and unfairly) affiliated with the rise of the Nazi party, and that Heidegger was a member of the Nazi party until it was disbanded, but in this work I feel as though I recognize a similar disdain for mediocrity. I haven’t read much Nietzsche, but I would wager that with the little I do know, his larger picture as it relates to the death of God can exist comfortably alongside Heidegger’s Dasein, insofar as unique experience is a mandatory criteria for being human.
A very interesting point made by Heidegger in this piece is that science is philosophy. His reasoning for this belief is science is bound to the beginning of philosophy. Before science came about people had to contemplate deeply before they could even conceive the idea of creating and testing an experiment. In this sense I agree with Heidegger's assessment that science is philosophy.
A topic brought up that somewhat confused me was Heidegger comment that "Should science exist for us in the future." I am not really sure what he means by that or his thinking behind the question.
It is almost scary to watch Heidegger associate the role of the German University and the role of science with some sort of knowledge of the fate of the German people and watch him weave an ultranationalist fabric into every aspect of knowledge and the university. I can see how Nazi propaganda was so highly effective, however, as science was turned not into a devout search for the truth but instead a means for some higher culture.
I am not able to exactly pinpoint what Heidegger means by science in this. The translator clarifies that he does not mean specifically the natural sciences and Heidegger seems to praise the origins of the Greek essence of science but says that it becomes too theoretical at some point.
1. I was confused when Heidegger said "German University was the "high school" which from science. 2. I thought it was interesting when Heidegger was almost contemplating the importance of science in the world. Especially since philosophy is a science.
throughout the reading Heidegger makes frequent reference to science and philosophy being intrinsically linked. At one point he mentions that the pursuit of knowledge/ science is ultimately meaningless without the spirituality provided by the pursuit of philosophy and I whole heartedly agree.
I do get a strong sense of troubling nationalism throughout this reading. The extreme emphasis on the German people as being the scientific/ artistic predecessors to the ancient Greeks seems to lend itself towards what sounds like a troubling mindset to indulge in
The racism within this piece takes many forms, firstly that he holds the racist colonizer belief that it was the west who invented science (or simply critical thinking), this is simply faulse critical thinking is found universally across cultures. This view is only possible with the schism from reality in the form of spirituality, namely that of the superiority of a specificly German Christian oriented spirituality. I’m guessing he uses this concept to make German society immune to all Marxist critique of political economy (hence his dismissal of base/superstructure dialectic) and to also make the claim that lesser races such as the Jews practice greedy capitalism; this ‘bad’ capitalism if eliminated from the German economy will leave the nation with ‘good’ aryan capitalism.
Heidegger seems to making an assessment of whether science exists on its on behalf, or through the essence of those who craft it, namely in the university setting. He questions the necessity of science itself, and I think is asserting the modern science has lost it's embryonic self from which the ancient Greeks formed.
I believe what he is stating is that the original essence of science is rigorous and responsible, and that if science should continue in school, it should embody these attributes. However, as he said, it took the Greeks three centuries to cohesively ask the question of what knowledge is, and so we can not expect science to move any faster.
I like how Heidegger questions if science can even exist if it has to exis "for us and through us". Its a deep question that makes you think is it purly human construction or is it a natural thing.
I can also see how he was influenced by some of the other readings we have had. He comes close to claiming self-goverence is needed to be autherntics or atleast thats how i read it.
I can certainly see Heidegger’s existential influence when he writes about the essential character of the German university being in its self-governance. This is especially evident when he explains that self governance means “to set ourselves the task and to determine ourselves the way and means of realizing that task in order to be what we ourselves ought to be.” However, it begins to sound a bit totalitarian to me when writes about the common will towards this essence. Is this a correct interpretation or am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Heidegger’s critique of “academic freedom” especially when he talks of how it means “arbitrariness in one’s intentions and inclinations.” I would assume Heidegger would agree that this is an inauthentic use of our freedom. Consequently, I also agree with his statement that “to give law to oneself is the highest freedom.” That sounds authentic. However, I’m not sure how the three bonds and forms of service are developed from this “true” freedom.
This work, appears highly nationalistic, although it remains a comfortable distance from the usual racism and dehumanization of the “other” that historically accompanies fervent European nationalism. Instead, Heidegger seems to focus on the more positive side of nationalism, which is uplifting one’s countrymen to improve their existence. Heidegger appears to want to hold the Germans to a high standard of being, often referencing the Greeks, and then recognizing their failures in the realm of knowledge. Presumably he does this because he believes that the Germans are superior to the Greeks as thinkers (or at least they could be if they embrace his certain manner of thinking.)
ReplyDeleteI know Nietzsche is commonly (and unfairly) affiliated with the rise of the Nazi party, and that Heidegger was a member of the Nazi party until it was disbanded, but in this work I feel as though I recognize a similar disdain for mediocrity. I haven’t read much Nietzsche, but I would wager that with the little I do know, his larger picture as it relates to the death of God can exist comfortably alongside Heidegger’s Dasein, insofar as unique experience is a mandatory criteria for being human.
A very interesting point made by Heidegger in this piece is that science is philosophy. His reasoning for this belief is science is bound to the beginning of philosophy. Before science came about people had to contemplate deeply before they could even conceive the idea of creating and testing an experiment. In this sense I agree with Heidegger's assessment that science is philosophy.
ReplyDeleteA topic brought up that somewhat confused me was Heidegger comment that "Should science exist for us in the future." I am not really sure what he means by that or his thinking behind the question.
It is almost scary to watch Heidegger associate the role of the German University and the role of science with some sort of knowledge of the fate of the German people and watch him weave an ultranationalist fabric into every aspect of knowledge and the university. I can see how Nazi propaganda was so highly effective, however, as science was turned not into a devout search for the truth but instead a means for some higher culture.
ReplyDeleteI am not able to exactly pinpoint what Heidegger means by science in this. The translator clarifies that he does not mean specifically the natural sciences and Heidegger seems to praise the origins of the Greek essence of science but says that it becomes too theoretical at some point.
1. I was confused when Heidegger said "German University was the "high school" which from science.
ReplyDelete2. I thought it was interesting when Heidegger was almost contemplating the importance of science in the world. Especially since philosophy is a science.
throughout the reading Heidegger makes frequent reference to science and philosophy being intrinsically linked. At one point he mentions that the pursuit of knowledge/ science is ultimately meaningless without the spirituality provided by the pursuit of philosophy and I whole heartedly agree.
ReplyDeleteI do get a strong sense of troubling nationalism throughout this reading. The extreme emphasis on the German people as being the scientific/ artistic predecessors to the ancient Greeks seems to lend itself towards what sounds like a troubling mindset to indulge in
The racism within this piece takes many forms, firstly that he holds the racist colonizer belief that it was the west who invented science (or simply critical thinking), this is simply faulse critical thinking is found universally across cultures.
ReplyDeleteThis view is only possible with the schism from reality in the form of spirituality, namely that of the superiority of a specificly German Christian oriented spirituality. I’m guessing he uses this concept to make German society immune to all Marxist critique of political economy (hence his dismissal of base/superstructure dialectic) and to also make the claim that lesser races such as the Jews practice greedy capitalism; this ‘bad’ capitalism if eliminated from the German economy will leave the nation with ‘good’ aryan capitalism.
Heidegger seems to making an assessment of whether science exists on its on behalf, or through the essence of those who craft it, namely in the university setting. He questions the necessity of science itself, and I think is asserting the modern science has lost it's embryonic self from which the ancient Greeks formed.
ReplyDeleteI believe what he is stating is that the original essence of science is rigorous and responsible, and that if science should continue in school, it should embody these attributes. However, as he said, it took the Greeks three centuries to cohesively ask the question of what knowledge is, and so we can not expect science to move any faster.
I like how Heidegger questions if science can even exist if it has to exis "for us and through us". Its a deep question that makes you think is it purly human construction or is it a natural thing.
ReplyDeleteI can also see how he was influenced by some of the other readings we have had. He comes close to claiming self-goverence is needed to be autherntics or atleast thats how i read it.