For Work / Against Work
Debates on the centrality of work

"Heidegger on Nature"

by Cooper, David E (2005)

Abstract

The primary purpose of the paper is the broadly exegetical one of explaining and connecting Heidegger's many remarks, made in several different contexts of enquiry, on nature. The three main contexts are those of ontology, scientific methodology, and technology. After showing how Heidegger's central theses in these contexts are related to one another, I argue, in the final section, that his observations on scientific method are pivotal. Unless these are secured, his further claims about ontology and technology lose their essential support.

Key Passage

Heidegger's concern is to expose what he takes to be the prevailing way in which, in modernity, nature is 'revealed' to us. 'Technology' is his name for this 'way of revealing'. His main claims in this context are that this way of revealing is a peculiarly partial and impoverished one, and that, worse still, it represents a 'monstrous' and 'supreme danger', being responsible, in effect, for an increasing 'devastation of the earth' and for our contemporary 'distress'.  (p.340)

Keywords

Technology, Science, Nature, Heidegger, Environment, Environmentalism

Themes

On Heidegger

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