Beyond Nihilism: The Turn in Heidegger’s Thought from Nietzsche to Hölderlin

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Martin Heidegger’s (1889-1976) criticism of Friedrich Nietzsche’s nihilism represented a ‘turn’ in his thought. In this new and perceptive book, Dominic Kelly explores nihilism through the work of two relatively modern and much studied philosophers; Heidegger and Nietzsche and shows how Heidegger began to think in a way that was not solely philosophical and instead used poetry to achieve a new relation to being. In doing so, Heidegger was able to move past Nietzsche’s concepts and thus, nihilism itself. Through his exploration of Heidegger’s journey to a form of thinking beyond the philosophical then, Kelly exposes nihilism’s crucial place in Continental philosophy and has written a book that is essential for students and academics working in Heidegger studies. Kelly’s engagement with Heidegger’s more poetic philosophy also benefits students of metaphysics, the philosophy of art and aesthetics, and visual culture more widely. By putting nihilism into its historical context and examining its Ancient Greek origins, Kelly’s book will also be of use to those studying early philosophical thought - a requirement for all philosophy courses – and provides a valuable account of nihilism’s historical trajectory. Cover Contents List of abbreviations Introduction 1 Nietzsche and the threat of nihilism Nietzsche and the problem of nihilism Why Nietzsche? Nihilism as history Nietzsche as physician Will to power The overhuman Nietzsche as metaphysician Questions concerning Heidegger’s interpretation of Nietzsche 2 The possibility of an other beginning The end of metaphysics and the possibility of an other beginning Ereignis Gelassenheit Physis: Being as presencing Original echoes of the concept of physis Aristotle and physis Physis, techne and the question of technology 3 Language as the house of being Language: The house of being The need for a reappraisal of how language works A traditional view of language Language as the advent of being Language as the ground of historical Dasein The poetic word as the ground of being The poetic as ethical 4 Hölderlin and the possibility of poetry Why Hölderlin? How does one approach Hölderlin’s poetic word? Poetic revelation as the grounding of the history of Dasein Hölderlin’s word as the fate of the West The Geviert Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index