Postgraduate "Work In Progress" Seminar

Abstract:

This paper aims to motivate a new approach to Heidegger's discussion of death in Being and Time. Beginning from the two standard interpretations, which argue Heidegger is either explicating the phenomenology of death in some literal sense, or otherwise Heidegger uses the term 'death' metaphorically in relation to angst, this paper contends both interpretations ultimately fail to do justice to Heidegger's claim that he is searching for the 'ontologically adequate' conception of death. Instead, Jae argues that Heidegger's relevant conception of death is metaphorical, but this is rather a metaphor concerning the finitude of Dasein's understanding. With this, we can better understand Heidegger's overarching question of the chapter - Dasein's being-a-whole - as making the transcendental point that this finitude is that which unifies the care structure explicated in Division 1. But this finitude is the central connecting point of the book: insofar as the principle of the unity of care is the finitude of Dasein's understanding, and temporality is the structure through which Dasein interprets and understands being, this foundational connection in death has been missed out of such prior interpretations.

The talk will be followed by a response from Dino Jakusic; discussion and drinks at The Dirty Duck. All students and staff are welcome.