The Unfolding of Language and Being in Heidegger's Later Work, 1949-1976
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Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fall 2009 Sprache als Be-wëgen: The nfoldinU g of Language and Being in Heidegger's Later Work, 1949-1976 Douglas F. Peduti Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Peduti, D. (2009). Sprache als Be-wëgen: The nfoU lding of Language and Being in Heidegger's Later Work, 1949-1976 (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1033 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPRACHE ALS BE-WËGEN: THE UNFOLDING OF LANGUAGE AND BEING IN HEIDEGGER’S LATER WORK, 1949-1976 A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Douglas Francis Peduti, S.J. December 2009 Copyright by Douglas F. Peduti, S.J. 2009 SPRACHE ALS BE-WËGEN: THE UNFOLDING OF LANGUAGE AND BEING IN HEIDEGGER’S LATER WORK, 1949-1976 By Douglas F. Peduti, S.J. Approved August 28, 2009 __________________________________ __________________________________ James Swindal, Ph.D. Richard Rojcewicz, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Philosophy Associate Professor of Philosophy (Dissertation Director) Point Park University (Reader) In memoriam, 27 February 2009 __________________________________ Wilhelm Wurzer, Ph.D. Andrew Cutrofello, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy Professor and Graduate Program Director (Reader) Loyola University Chicago (Outside Reader) _________________________________ __________________________________ Christopher M. Duncan, Ph.D. James Swindal, Ph.D. Professor and Dean, Chair, Department of Philosophy The McAnulty College and Associate Professor of Philosophy Graduate School of Liberal Arts iii ABSTRACT SPRACHE ALS BE-WËGEN: THE UNFOLDING OF LANGUAGE AND BEING IN HEIDEGGER’S LATER WORK, 1949-1976 By Douglas F. Peduti, S.J. December 2009 Dissertation Supervised by James Swindal, Ph.D. Much neglected is Heidegger’s latter work in favor of the fundamental ontology of Being and Time. Consequentially, conceptions of Heidegger’s question of Being are oftentimes misconceived. Currently three main models have been proposed: (1) existential phenomenology, exemplified by Joseph Langan in the 1950s; (2) the popular thought of Being model in the 1960s as developed by William Richardson; (3) and in counter distinction to these unified models Joseph Kockelmans offers in the 1970s the many ways model, touting the end of systems. These misconstruals have spawned much Heideggerian dialogue, and in recent years, has had its effect upon Western continental scholarship from structuralism to post-structuralism. Rather than usual conceptual models, this dissertation proposes a new model of Heideggerian scholarship seen through the lens of “Being as Saying.” Neither mystical iv nor incomprehensible Heidegger’s unique linguistic turn negotiates the inadequacies of modern conceptions of the subject, object and cognition. Through a careful reading of Heidegger’s work from 1949-1976, I trace Heidegger’s utter reliance upon language as the way-making of Being, “Sprache als Be-wëgen.” More originary than ordinary language, Heidegger’s Being as Saying arises from Nietzsche’s insights on nihilism. For Heidegger Being is no-thing, and as such reveals itself as unconcealment. We hear it as a deep, unsettling silence. From Being’s two-fold character of concealing and revealing and humanity’s subsequent discomfit, we derive all forms of communication, including thought and logic, even our world as a response to, and/or evasion from this pervasive silence. Most notably Heidegger unseats the preeminent stature of thought and subject, only to reincorporate them within language. To achieve this he develops notions of Ereignis and Geviert, at once simple and complex, by which Being manifests itself, no longer through Dasein as prime discloser, but through a crossing of four regions. What emerges is a dynamic gathering-as-separated dialogue, a far richer, relational understanding of the world and the person. Heidegger’s new way can best be described as a “phenomenology of the inapparent,” wherein Being and humanity are in a relational dialogue of unconcealing and revealing. With this insight we can reengage the Western philosophical tradition meditatively. v DEDICATION For Elizabeth, my mother, words simply fail to express my gratitude to her. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENT Not unlike other projects, this thesis had many phases, able hands, and sharp eyes. From the outset it seemed that even its conception was never without assistance. From Tom Sheehan’s plea for a new Heideggerian paradigm to Wilhelm Wurzer’s open-ended questioning, the project emerged over time. Yet its inchoate inception never would have moved forward without the constant encouragement of my director, Jim Swindal. While not a Heideggerian himself, he drew my prose beyond my own comfortable circle of interpretation. Richard Rojcewicz, a seasoned translator of numerous texts of Heidegger, continually tied my own thought closer to Heidegger’s text. Andrew Cutrofello, on the other hand, offered weekly advice on various interlocutors of Heidegger and their concerns. From their guidance I was able to bridge Heidegger’s later work with current Western traditions. Finally, I must thank my brother Jesuits not only for their playful support, but also for the reflective opportunity away from active ministry with financial assistance, permitting this project to reach its conclusion. To these and many friends and family who prefer to remain unmentioned, indeed I owe a debt of gratitude. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION.................................................................................................................. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................ vii INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................xiii ..................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE: EARLY APPROACHES I............................................................... 2 SEIN UND ZEIT............................................................................................................. 2 WORLDHOOD OF THE WORLD .................................................................................... 14 BEING-WITH............................................................................................................... 21 BEING-IN.................................................................................................................... 25 TOWARD AN ONTOLOGICAL CONSTITUTION .............................................................. 26 CARE STRUCTURE...................................................................................................... 34 DASEIN AND TEMPORALITY ....................................................................................... 36 CHAPTER TWO: EARLY APPROACHES II .......................................................... 41 POETRY AND GREEK PHILOSOPHY...................................................................... 41 THE ORIGIN OF THE WORK OF ART...................................................................... 55 THE WILL TO POWER AS ART ................................................................................ 66 BEITRÄGE................................................................................................................... 74 viii CHAPTER THREE: FROM LANGUAGE AND BEING TOWARD BEING:SAYING ............................................................................................................. 88 “T HE TURNING ” ............................................................................................................. 92 “T HE THING ” ............................................................................................................... 101 “L ANGUAGE ” ............................................................................................................... 106 CHAPTER FOUR: FROM LO&GOS TOWARD BEING:SAYING ....................... 117 EARLY GREEK THINKING ..................................................................................... 118 “L OGOS ” .................................................................................................................. 118 DWELLING ............................................................................................................... 126 “B UILDING DWELLING THINKING ” .......................................................................... 126 “… POETICALLY MAN DWELLS …” ........................................................................ 130 THINKING ................................................................................................................. 132 WAS HEISST DENKEN ? ............................................................................................... 132 EARLY GREEK THINKING II ................................................................................. 133 “MOI =RA ” ..................................................................................................................