Being ... Just What Is This Thing Anyway?

[_Philo Sofee]

I've recently read Emanuele Severino, a very famous Italian philosopher, "The Essence of Nihilism," fairly recent vintage book, wherein he contends with Heidegger's view in his own book (which I am reading as well) "Being and Time."

Have any of you actually studied the idea of Being and know any other good authors (Severino is simply breath taking actually!) on this subject, and what are some of your thoughts? I just need to get my bearings on this fascinating subject.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Sure. Wikipedia has a list of around 55 people considered to be existentialists.

Why don't you unpack some of your thoughts on the matter and see if you can't get some of the more clever types on this board to offer up some of their thoughts?

- Doc

[_RockSlider]

Sure. Wikipedia has a list of around 55 people considered to be existentialists.

Why don't you unpack some of your thoughts on the matter and see if you can't get some of the more clever types on this board to offer up some of their thoughts?

- Doc

Sure, poke Jersey Girl then run away again.

[_Meadowchik]

Have any of you actually studied the idea of Being .

Well I been bein' for upwards of 41 years now. I think about it a lot, in fact.

;)

[_deacon blues]

Being- the quality or state of existence. The general concept encompassing objective and subjective features of reality and existence.

From my personal experience 'being' can be a excruciatingly painful experience, or a joyously euphoric experience. Sometimes the difference depends on finding the right combination of anti-depressant medication, following an exercise regimen, the arrival of Spring, and falling in love. It's at least as big a topic as the universe. Where does one start?

[_Meadowchik]

Being- the quality or state of existence. The general concept encompassing objective and subjective features of reality and existence.

From my personal experience 'being' can be a excruciatingly painful experience, or a joyously euphoric experience. Sometimes the difference depends on finding the right combination of anti-depressant medication, following an exercise regimen, the arrival of Spring, and falling in love. It's at least as big a topic as the universe. Where does one start?

Nowadays and in the West, one usually starts cold, wet, and in a brightly-lit room being handed around, poked and prodded. ;) /smartalek

One observation I made with my babies was just how tough digestion is...all that new work your body is doing! It was hard for us, even in infancy.

[_mikwut]

Hi Philo,

Long ago I thought Hegel and Heidegger were just spouting pseudo profundities. A lot still think that. Now, I love them. But it has been a long circle of the commentaries, discussion, actually reading of the text and classes.

Although I am going to recommend that you take the great amount of time and slosh through Heidegger's B&T, which can be tough sledding; I do recommend you start with his "An Introduction to Metaphysics". It is much more accessible than B&T but gives you a good idea of what he is about.

Ignore the political stuff surrounding him. It is a waste of time. But you do need a grasp on the history of philosophy and the continental and analytic turns. You really need to know your Plato and Aristotle, at least it can help.

If your trying to place him in a theological or non-theological box or mold John Macquarrie's, "Heidegger and Christianity" is the best I have found. Heidegger influenced Barth and Bultmann to certain degrees.

I am certain that David Foster Wallace's treatment of a loss of reverence in his "Infinite Jest" is a take on Heidegger's loss of "being" in our technocratic culture and world. What is amazing about Heidegger is after the hard work of digging into him you get it, you understand what you didn't understand that he is trying to pull and tug from you to show you what philosophy has ignored. Dasein isn't just a word for a human being anymore but includes all the concreteness of humanness and experience. He is attempting an entire perceptual change. Unfortunately a discussion board just isn't the best vehicle to learn him.

I have read very few books that pay off the hard work of gaining understanding. (Infinite Jest is another) He isn't going to make you a theist or make your atheism more concrete. He hopefully will make you see the world how you haven't seen it in order to better judge those states of being. He isn't interested in skepticism per se that is just built into to most philosophy but rather a take on our finding ourselves as these beings in this world.

Good reading, mikwut

[_Philo Sofee]

THANK YOU Mikwut. I am just starting his "Being and Time." I realize I am way over my head, so I appreciate the recommendations. I also will begin Aristotle's "Metaphysics" here shortly. I found the other side of the coin to Heidegger is Severino. If you can I would LOVE to ask you read that and then discuss the differences of Heidegger and Severino. On the back, the blurbs say there are only two options on Being in our day, Heidegger and Severino.

Thanks again. I will spend a few years getting my bearings on this.

[_Maksutov]

Existence precedes essence.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I also will begin Aristotle's "Metaphysics" here shortly.

Thanks again. I will spend a few years getting my bearings on this.

I read Metaphysics in 1999. Luckily someone had gifted me a study guide of some sort. I think it might've been from one of their old college courses. I was 28, had one foot in the church, and one foot out, not totally understanding why my view of the world was shifting so much. I really believe reading that book when I did pretty much laid the foundation for my eventual awakening. As I was working my way through it, I recall thinking there was so much more, I dunno, thoughtfulness and intent to discover truth in that book, by a man who lived so long ago, than anything I read from Mormon scholars and prophets combined.

When compared to The Teachings of Joseph Smith and the Journal of Discourses, among many other LDS books I had read up to that point, Metaphysics wasn't even in the same realm. LDS theology just reeked of bad fiction and braggadocio.

Anyway. Good luck with it. It's definitely work, and I'd recommend getting a companion study guide to go with it.

- Doc