Saturday, February 24, 2024

Martin Heidegger: The Dasein (1889–1976)

 Joann A. Gapuzan

Divine Word College of Laoag

Introduction:

Martin Heidegger became one of the most influential philosophers of existentialism, the sphere of philosophy that questions human existence and our responsibilities as free and independent beings in the world. (Krook, J., 2021)

Heidegger was born on September 26, 1889, in Meßkirch, a small village in what has long been referred to as a "Catholic country." From 1903 to 1909, he attended public secondary schools in Constance and Freiburg with the help of Camillo Brandhuber, the pastor of the local church where his father served as sacristan. During his stay at the two "humanistic" gymnasiums, Heidegger recalls learning "fruitfully from excellent teachers of Greek, Latin, and German."(Dahlstrom, D., 2011)

     Martin Heidegger taught philosophy at Freiburg University (1915–23), Marburg University (1923–8), and again at Freiburg University (1928–45). Early in his career, he came under the influence of Edmund Husserl, but he soon broke away to fashion his own philosophy. (Thomas, S.,2024)

Nonetheless, Heidegger’s essay, Origin of the Work of Art (based upon his first public lectures after resigning as rector), marks a key transition in his thinking. On the one hand, as he attests, the essay is motivated by the same question of being motivated by Being and Time (BT). Moreover, a central theme, namely, that the artwork is the happening of truth as the unhiddenness of beings (thus, supposing hiddenness), reprises but also revises his BT account of Dasein as the primordial “place” the “clearing” of truth. (Dahlstrom, D., 2011)

The Wisdom of Dasein

      The term Dasei refers both to human beings and to the type of being that humans have. The root meaning of the noun is “being there”. According to Heidegger, the primary objective of the phenomenology of Dasein is hermeneutic in the primordial signification of this word, where it designates this business of interpreting. It is through this interpretation the authentic meaning of Being, and also those basic structures of Being which Dasein itself possesses, are made known to Dasein’s understanding of Being. (Sabrine, A.)

Thus, Dasein is then not a disembodied, transcendent being, but rather the experience of being that is peculiar to human beings, an inherently social being that already operates with a pre-theoretical grasp of the a priori structures that make possible particular modes of Being. (Eternalised,2021)

Furthermore, Heidegger says that Dasein understands itself in its being. Another feature that distinguishes Dasein from other entities is the fact that it is a being in the world. Dasein finds itself in the world, but in a very different way than the other entities in it. (Sabrine, A.)

Therefore, the primary way that people interact with the outside world is through their Dasein. Humans actively interact with the world; they are not passive objects within it, and this interaction shapes their perception of it. Furthermore, Heidegger emphasizes the notion that people are always positioned inside particular circumstances that have an impact on how well they interact with the outside world. Dasein's awareness of its own existence is one of its most important qualities. Dasein has the singular capacity to consider its own existence. This self-awareness goes beyond a purely intellectual exercise; it has a significant impact on how Dasein interacts with the outside world. For instance, Heidegger contends that when Dasein is confronted with its own mortality, anxiety develops. This feeling of anxiousness actively changes Dasein's way of interacting with the outside world; it is not only a psychological state. (Laghari, R,2023)

Being in the world can be understood concerning awareness in the following ways:

A.  Intentionality:

Consciousness frequently demonstrates intentionality, which means it is focused on certain things or situations in the outside world. Being aware of something, perceiving it, thinking about it, wanting it, and acting on it are all aspects of our conscious experiences. We can interact with the outside world thanks to consciousness, which also enables us to be aware of our surroundings and our own existence.

B.  A Phenomenological Viewpoint: 

The focus of phenomenology as a philosophical strategy is on the individual experiences of consciousness. With a focus on the first-person perspective, it investigates how consciousness shapes our perception of the outside world. Phenomenology explores the numerous ways that consciousness is experienced and how it shapes our perception of who we are and how the world works.

C.  Temporality: 

Time is essential to both our existence and how we interact with the outside world. Our experiences and perceptions of the world are impacted by past, present, and future temporal aspects since we are always located in a certain temporal setting.

D.  Embodiment: 

Our physique shapes how we interact with the outside world and how we exist. Our bodies are the tools we use to see, act with, and engage with the world around us. Our bodily experiences and capacities have an impact on how we perceive the world and how we react to it.

E.  Embodied Awareness: 

Some viewpoints place a strong emphasis on the embodied component of consciousness, viewing it as inextricably linked to our bodily functions and senses. Our conscious awareness of ourselves and the outside environment is influenced by our body's experiences and sensations. It is believed that awareness interacts with the physical world and molds our perceptions and behaviors through the physical body.

F.  Spatiality: 

We are also fundamentally bound to a certain spatial setting. We move through and interact with the world in spatial terms, seeing things and places and being impacted by our surroundings' physical and geographical features.

G.  Contextual awareness: 

Additionally, consciousness is positioned in a particular setting and shaped by the cultural, social, and historical elements that define our existence. Our conscious experiences are intricately entwined with the meanings, standards, and customs of the environment in which we live.

H.  Sociality: 

Fundamentally, human existence is social. Within social frameworks, which include cultural norms, language, institutions, and interpersonal connections, we function and interact with others. Social influences and our relationships with others have an impact on how we perceive the environment.

I.  Concern & Care: 

Heidegger emphasizes that the idea of caring (Sorge) is a core component of Dasein. Care describes our ongoing and pre-reflective engagement with the world, where we are worried about many things, endeavors, and our own existence. How we perceive and interact with the world around us is shaped by our worries and anxieties.

J.  Existentialism: 

The philosophical philosophy known as existentialism places a strong emphasis on personal existence, freedom, accountability, and the meaning of life. It examines issues related to human existence, decisions, authenticity, and the pursuit of meaning in a world that is unreliable and frequently ludicrous.

K.  Being-in-the-World: 

This phrase is related to Heidegger's Dasein philosophy. The concept of "Being-in-the-World" describes the close relationship between human existence (Dasein) and the environment in which it takes place. It highlights the fact that we interact with the world in a variety of ways and are always located inside a particular context.

L.  Authenticity: 

According to existentialism, authenticity is the quality of being true to oneself and acting following one's personal principles. It entails accepting freedom, accepting accountability for one's decisions, and rejecting false or artificial identities.

M.  Consciousness: An intricate, multifaceted feature of human existence

     Consciousness, a complex and multidimensional aspect of human existence, is commonly considered in the context of "Being in the world." Although Martin Heidegger’s concept of Dasein does not expressly address awareness, other philosophical perspectives and scientific advancements have examined the relationship between consciousness and our existence in the cosmos. It's  

important to keep in mind that ongoing philosophical and scientific studies on   

the nature of consciousness and how it pertains to human existence are being   

conducted. A wide range of interpretations are offered by many philosophical   

systems, and disciplines like cognitive science and neuroscience also aid in our understanding of consciousness.

Conclusion

 Martin Heidegger’s Dasein gives a sole perspective on the life of humans and the essence of existing in this world. Dasein describes the importance of man with the world. Dasein includes the ability to involve with the outside world, with concern, care, intentionality, and self-awareness. Dasein also emphasizes that man should not forget his authenticity.

In this philosophy of Martin Heidegger’s Dasein, the purpose of humans in this world is not to become passive but to contribute to the common good and participate in the betterment of the people around them.

      Becoming a teacher does not end only by transferring ideas and knowledge to learners, but guiding and helping them unleash their potentials and skills that can contribute to solving different problems in our society. Our Dasein now is to let our learners fully realize their Dasein to the world in a way that they are authentic from others. And that I believe even if we die, we have no worries because we surely leave behind a remarkable impact on our students. We can say that we participate, we are involved and have a contribution to humanity and we will be remembered forever.

References:

 Eternalized ( 2021, January 28): Dasein and Being-in-the-world-Heidegger https://eternalisedofficial.com/2021/01/28/dasein-being-in-the-world/

Dahlstrom,V.(2011,May31).Martin Heidegger: https://www.bu.edu/philo/files/2019/09/d-martin-heidegger.pdf

Hussain, A., ( 2023, October) What is Philosophy https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355425176_What_is_Philosophy_By_Abid_Hussain

Krook, J. ( 2021, November 16). The Philosophy of Martin Heidegger: https://newintrigue.com/2021/11/16/the-world-according-to-martin-heidegger/

Laghari, R., (2023, June 11) Human Existence as “ Being There”

 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dasein-martin-heidegger-human-existence-being-riaz-   laghari

 Sabrine, Chapter 35:The Ontology of Dasein and the Concept of Truth https://www.academia.edu/35511449/Chapter_35_Martin_Heidegger_The_Ontology_of_     Dasein_and_the_Concept_of_Truth

Thomas, S.,(2024)Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/biographical/heidegger-martin-1889-1976/v-1

 

 

 

 

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