Martin Heidegger

Date of Birth: September 26, 1889

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: May 26, 1976

Biography

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher born on September 26, 1889, in Meßkirch, Baden, Germany. He is best known for his monumental work “Being and Time” (1927), which is considered one of the most important philosophical texts of the 20th century. Heidegger’s philosophy is often associated with existentialism and phenomenology, though he himself distanced his work from existentialist thought. His exploration of “Being” (Sein) and his critique of the history of metaphysics have had a profound influence on a wide range of disciplines, including theology, literary theory, and cognitive science. Heidegger studied theology at the University of Freiburg before switching to philosophy under the mentorship of Edmund Husserl, the founder of phenomenology. He succeeded Husserl as Professor of Philosophy at Freiburg in 1928. His involvement with the Nazi Party in the early 1930s remains a controversial aspect of his biography, although he later distanced himself from National Socialism. Heidegger’s later works, including “The Question Concerning Technology” (1954), further developed his ideas on the nature of Being, technology, and modernity. He continued to write and lecture until his death on May 26, 1976, in Freiburg, Germany. Despite the controversies surrounding his political affiliations, his philosophical legacy remains influential.

5 Interesting Facts about Martin Heidegger

1. Martin Heidegger was deeply influenced by the Greek pre-Socratic philosophers and often referred to their works in his own philosophical inquiries.

2. He had a complex relationship with his mentor Edmund Husserl, which soured after Heidegger’s association with the Nazi Party.

3. Heidegger had a lifelong friendship with the philosopher Hannah Arendt, who was his student and later became a significant political theorist.

4. Heidegger’s “hut” in the Black Forest, known as “Todtnauberg,” was where he wrote many of his later works and meditated on nature and Being.

5. Despite his controversial political past, Heidegger was invited to lecture worldwide, including in France, where he had a significant impact on French existentialism and post-structuralism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Martin Heidegger

1. “The most thought-provoking thing in our thought-provoking time is that we are still not thinking.”

2. “Being is the most universal concept. It is also the emptiest.”

3. “Language is the house of Being. In its home, man dwells.”

4. “To dwell is to garden the earth.”

5. “Every man is born as many men and dies as a single one.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Martin Heidegger’s net worth is not well-documented, as philosophers typically do not accumulate wealth comparable to business figures or celebrities. However, his intellectual legacy is invaluable.