Martin Heidegger

is distinguished from Hegel in that, whereas Hegel focuses on what was thought in the history of philosophy, with a view to superseding (aufheben) it metaphysically, Heidegger attempts to “step back” from metaphysics towards what was not thought by it, namely, the difference between being and beings.

Not surprisingly, despite his multiple uses of “negativity” in the Science of Logic, Hegel takes it for granted, leaving it and its origin unexplained (68: 22ff). Like Fichte, Hegel looks for a ground and system where Kant—to his credit—recognizes that there could only be an abyss (15: 298ff). Whereas Hegel focuses on what was thought in the history of philosophy, with a view to superseding (aufheben) it metaphysically, Heidegger attempts to “step back” from metaphysics towards what was not thought by it, namely, the difference between being and beings (5: 175; 11: 56–9, 68ff).

Daniel DalhstromThinkers

Daniel Dalhstrom