Critic of the Modernity Experience in German Philosophy: A Case Study of Heidegger

Abstract

The Heideggerian endeavor represents a profound philosophical investigation into the experience of modernity within the context of German philosophy. This inquiry was motivated by Heidegger's shared intellectual concerns with his contemporaries regarding the imperative to revitalize the substance of German philosophical inquiry, particularly in light of the metaphysical heritage bequeathed by the Greek tradition. Within this framework, the philosophical structure of the Heideggerian experience is elucidated through its engagement with the modernity project, as reflected in the intellectual exchanges Heidegger had with leading thinkers of his time. He initiated a research forum to examine two pivotal philosophical epochs that established a metaphysical modernity: the Greek origins and the ontological inquiry into being, alongside its resurgence as articulated by Nietzsche and the modern intellectual milieu. Through this historical examination of philosophy, Heidegger aimed to assess the contemporary condition of modernity, revealing the shortcomings of Greek metaphysics in obscuring the essence of being throughout the history of philosophy, which resulted in ontological dilemmas resonating within modern discourse.