The Principle of Reason

by Martin Heidegger

Overview

The Principle of Reason, the text of an important and influential lecture course that Martin Heidegger gave in 1955–56, takes as its focal point Leibniz's principle: nothing is without reason. Heidegger shows here that the principle of reason is in fact a principle of being. Much of his discussion is aimed at bringing his readers to the "leap of thinking," which enables them to grasp the principle of reason as a principle of being. This text presents Heidegger's most extensive reflection on the notion of history and its essence, the Geschick of being, which is considered on of the most important developments in Heidegger's later thought. One of Heidegger's most artfully composed texts, it also contains important discussions of language, translation, reason, objectivity, and technology as well as remarkable readings of Leibniz, Kant, Aristotle, and Goethe, among others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253210661
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	01/22/1996
Series:	Studies in Continental Thought
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Reginald Lilly is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Skidmore College and editor of The Ancients and the Moderns.

Table of Contents

Translator's Introduction
Foreword

Lecture Course

Lecture One
Lecture Two
Lecture Three
Lecture Four
Lecture Five
Lecture Six
Lecture Seven
Lecture Eight
Lecture Nine
Lecture Ten
Lecture Eleven
Lecture Twelve
Lecture Thirteen

Address
The Principle of Reason

Bibliographical Notes
Notes on the Translation
Glossaries

What People are Saying About This

Michael Heim

"Recreates the intellectual footwork necessary for Heidegger’s leap from the terra cognita of modernity into the existential questions of the age of technology." —Michael Heim

Editorial Reviews

"Starting from Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason . . . , Heidegger reflects on the relation of modern and ancient philosophy and of poetry and thinking. . . . an accurate and readable English translation."—Choice

"Recreates the intellectual footwork necessary for Heidegger's leap from the terra cognita of modernity into the existential questions of the age of technology."—Michael Heim

From the Publisher

Recreates the intellectual footwork necessary for Heidegger's leap from the terra cognita of modernity into the existential questions of the age of technology.

Michael Heim

Starting from Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason . . . , Heidegger reflects on the relation of modern and ancient philosophy and of poetry and thinking. . . . an accurate and readable English translation.

Choice

Lilly has ably translated a lecture course by Heidegger on Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason, which states that everything in the world has a rational explanation. Heidegger concentrates on placing the principle within his own complex account of the history of Being. He has little interest in the logical evaluation of the principle's validity in the style of analytic philosophy. Instead, he uses his customary method of probing the etymology of philosophical terms. Lilly pays close attention to every nuance of Heidegger's style and includes helpful discussions of key words and phrases. For admirers of Heidegger, the book is essential; for the curious, it provides a good look at how Heidegger philosophizes.-- David Gor don, Bowling Green State Univ., Ohio

Library Journal

The text of a lecture course that Heidegger gave in 1955-56. It takes as its focal point Leibniz's principle: nothing is without reason. He shows here that the principle of reason is in fact a principle of being. Much of his discussion is aimed at bringing his readers to the reason as a principle of being. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews