New Books in Philosophy Richard Polt, "Time and Trauma: Thinking Through Heidegger in the Thirties" (Rowman and Littlefield, 2020)
Mar 4, 2020
In this engaging discussion, Richard Polt, a philosophy professor and Heidegger expert, tackles the controversial aspects of Martin Heidegger’s thought during the 1930s. He delves into the philosopher's fraught relationship with Nazism, analyzing its impact on his ideas about selfhood and community. Polt explores concepts like ecstatic temporality and collective identity, advocating for a deeper understanding of trauma in shaping existence. He also critiques superficial despair, urging listeners to confront discomfort for personal and political transformation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Creative But Troubling Transition
- Heidegger's 1930s work is wildly creative yet politically troubling due to its philosophical commitments.
- Polt traces three developing themes: selfhood, emergency, and inception as keys to that shift.
Ecstatic Temporality And Authenticity
- Heidegger's ecstatic temporality has three dimensions: future, past, and present that open meaningful action.
- Authentic moments of crisis let us face mortality and live with resolute purpose.
Ereignis As World‑Opening Event
- Das Ereignis (the event) marks a grounding when a world or 'there' opens and meaning appears.
- Polt reads it as an extraordinary inception that can have political implications for founding communities.
