Discourse on Thinking (Torchbooks) [Paperback]

Martin Heidegger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0061314595 | ISBN-13: 978-0061314599 | Publication Date: November 19, 1969 | Edition: New edition

Discourse on Thinking questions that must occur to us the moment we manage to see a familiar situation in unfamiliar light.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in southern Germany, Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) is the author of Being and Time. He taught philosophy at the University of Freiburg and the University of Marburg.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; New edition edition (November 19, 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061314595
• ISBN-13: 978-0061314599
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gelassenheit, July 3, 2007

By 

Tony See "New Thinker" (Singapore, Switzerland, Shanghai) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Discourse on Thinking (Torchbooks) (Paperback)

This is an indispensible work if you are interested in discovering what Heidegger was thinking towards the end of his career. "Discourse on Thinking" can be seen as a succinct statement of his thinking on thinking in relation to the onslaught of global technology and the concomitant nihilism that follows close behind.

In the face of the domination of global technology, what is to be done? In terms of "Letting-Be" (Gelassenheit) thinking must overcome its preoccupation with instrumental reasoning which is based on representation and rationality. It is in "meditative thinking" that we are able to arrive at a proper relationship with technology.

An important work related to this is Heidegger's "Question Concerning Technology" in which he sets up the structure of this domination - the world is presented as a "standing resource" and we become "standing resources" in an indirect way. The work forms an invaluable background for this text and it is also available in Amazon.com. Another important work is Schirmacher's "Technik und Gelassenheit" which offers an important critique of Heidegger's philosophy of technology. The work is unfortunately, yet to be translated into English and even its German edition seems to be out of print at the moment. We await the translation of this work with much anticipation!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easiest Heidegger to understand that I've read, July 20, 2009

By 

Howlglen (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discourse on Thinking (Torchbooks) (Paperback)

I've read several essays and one book by Martin Heidegger and I am definitely of the opinion that the Discourse on Thinking is far and away the easiest of these to understand. This work was read to the "general public" and, I suppose, that is the reason it is so accessible. In it, Heidegger compares calculative and meditative thinking and exhorts the public to do the latter in terms of his "releasement toward things" and "openness to the mystery." Yes, it gives average guys and gals a way to think about all the beings in the world and encourages us to pursue an authentic relationship to beings, and Being, in a practical way.

5.0 out of 5 stars Heidegger: Discourse on Thinking, November 20, 2011

By 

ian hays "Ian" (UK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Discourse on Thinking (Torchbooks) (Paperback)

This is an Excellent Book with a good strong clear Introduction by John Anderson. This book also includes Martin Heidegger's memorial Address on Kreutzer.
An excellent purchase for anyone interested in Heidegger's changing concerns with the practice (or lack of it) of Thinking.