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How to Read Being and Time by Heidegger: A Beginner’s Guide

How to Read Being and Time by Heidegger: A Beginner’s Guide

How to Read Being and Time by Heidegger: A Beginner’s Guide

Introduction: Why Read Being and Time?

Being and Time (German: Sein und Zeit), published in 1927, is one of the most influential and challenging philosophical works of the 20th century. Written by Martin Heidegger, it revolutionized existential philosophy and phenomenology by asking a profound question: What does it mean to be?

But reading Being and Time is no easy task. It’s dense, jargon-heavy, and unfolds in a unique style. Many readers feel overwhelmed or put off by its complexity.

This guide offers a roadmap to help you approach Heidegger’s masterpiece thoughtfully, gain insight into its core ideas, and make your reading experience more rewarding.

I. Understanding the Context: Who Was Heidegger?

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher whose work shaped existentialism, hermeneutics, and continental philosophy. Influenced by Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology and earlier thinkers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, Heidegger sought to rethink ontology — the study of being itself.

Being and Time is his attempt to resurrect philosophy by focusing on Dasein, or “being-there,” the condition of human existence. Heidegger believed that traditional philosophy had lost touch with the fundamental question of what it means to be.

II. Why Being and Time Is Difficult

Before diving in, it helps to know why the book challenges readers:

  • Complex Language: Heidegger repurposes everyday words like “being,” “time,” and “world” with specialized meanings.
  • Neologisms and German Terms: Key terms like Dasein, Being-toward-death, Thrownness, and Care (Sorge) are untranslated or used in new ways.
  • Dense Structure: The book is divided into two main parts, with numerous subdivisions exploring layers of existential analysis.
  • Philosophical Background Needed: Familiarity with phenomenology, existentialism, and Kantian philosophy can ease comprehension.

III. The Core Concepts You Need to Know

Before reading, it’s helpful to grasp some central ideas Heidegger develops:

1. Dasein — Being There

At the heart of Being and Time is Dasein, Heidegger’s term for human existence. Unlike objects, Dasein has self-awareness and cares about its own being. It is “being-in-the-world,” meaning humans are always immersed in a meaningful context.

2. Being-in-the-World

Humans don’t exist as isolated minds but are always connected with the world, other people, and things. Our existence is fundamentally relational and practical.

3. Care (Sorge)

Care is the basic structure of Dasein’s being, expressing concern and involvement in the world and one’s own life.

4. Thrownness (Geworfenheit)

Dasein finds itself “thrown” into a world not of its own making — a facticity that shapes its possibilities and limitations.

5. Being-toward-death

Awareness of mortality shapes how we live authentically. Death is the “possibility of the absolute impossibility” — the end of all possibilities.

6. Authenticity vs Inauthenticity

Heidegger distinguishes between living authentically (owning one’s existence) and inauthentically (conforming to societal norms and distractions).

IV. How to Approach the Text: Reading Strategies

1. Start with Secondary Sources

Begin by reading accessible summaries or introductions to Heidegger’s thought. Books like:

  • Heidegger: A Very Short Introduction by Michael Inwood
  • Introducing Heidegger by Jeff Malpas
  • Various philosophy podcasts and YouTube channels focusing on existentialism and phenomenology

These resources will familiarize you with basic terminology and themes.

2. Read Being and Time Slowly and in Sections

  • Don’t expect to read the whole book quickly. Take your time, focusing on small portions.
  • Focus first on Part One, which lays out the analysis of Dasein.
  • Try to understand the question behind the text rather than just definitions.

3. Keep a Glossary

Maintain a list of key terms with your notes, including Heidegger’s unique usage. For example:

  • Dasein = human existence
  • Sorge (Care) = involvement with being
  • Geworfenheit = thrownness into the world

This helps track repeated concepts.

4. Engage with Thought Experiments

Heidegger invites readers to reflect on their own experience. Try to:

  • Contemplate your own mortality and how it influences choices.
  • Reflect on moments when you felt “authentic” or “inauthentic.”
  • Notice how your daily engagement with things reveals being-in-the-world.

5. Join Study Groups or Online Forums

Philosophy discussion groups or online communities like r/philosophy can be great for asking questions and seeing how others interpret difficult passages.

V. Summary of Being and Time’s Structure

The book is divided into two major parts:

  • Part One: The Preparatory Fundamental Analysis of Dasein
    Investigates what it means to be human, focusing on existence, time, care, death, and authenticity.
  • Part Two: Dasein and Temporality
    Explores the relation of being to time, historicity, and temporality as the horizon of existence. (Note: Heidegger never completed the full planned work.)

VI. Why Being and Time Still Matters Today

Heidegger’s work remains a cornerstone of continental philosophy, influencing:

  • Existentialism: Inspiring Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, and others.
  • Hermeneutics: The theory of interpretation and understanding.
  • Phenomenology: Deepened the study of lived experience.
  • Psychology & Therapy: Existential psychotherapy draws heavily on Heidegger’s concepts.
  • Literature and Art: Many writers engage Heidegger’s ideas on authenticity and being.

VII. Common Challenges and Tips

  • Jargon Overload: Don’t get stuck on every difficult term. Focus on the broader questions.
  • Repetition: Heidegger often revisits ideas—use this to your advantage to deepen understanding.
  • Patience: Reading Heidegger is like learning a new language; immersion over time helps.
  • Context Matters: Keep in mind the historical and intellectual background of early 20th-century Germany.

VIII. Additional Resources for Deepening Your Understanding

  • Books:
    • Heidegger’s Being and Time: A Reader’s Guide by William Blattner
    • Reading Heidegger’s Being and Time by Richard Polt
  • Online:
    • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Heidegger
    • YouTube series: Wireless Philosophy’s Heidegger videos
  • Courses:
    • EdX and Coursera offer courses on existentialism and phenomenology.

IX. Final Thoughts: The Journey of Reading Heidegger

Reading Being and Time isn’t about quick answers but about engaging deeply with questions that shape how we understand existence.

As you navigate Heidegger’s challenging text, remember:

  • Philosophy is a practice, not a mere academic exercise.
  • The goal is to cultivate insight into your own being and the world you inhabit.
  • Heidegger’s questions open pathways rather than close them.

Approach the text with curiosity and patience, and Being and Time can become not just a book but a transformative experience.

📌 TL;DR Summary

  • Being and Time asks: What does it mean to be?
  • Central idea: Dasein = human existence as “being-in-the-world.”
  • Key themes: authenticity, thrownness, care, being-toward-death.
  • Read slowly, use secondary sources, keep a glossary, and reflect personally.
  • The book shapes existentialism, hermeneutics, and modern philosophy.

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