Heidegger, philosophy, Nazism

by Julian Young

Since 1945, and particularly since 1987, when the facts of the 'Heidegger case' became widely known, an enormous number of words have been devoted to establishing not only Heidegger's involvement with Nazism but also that his philosophy is thereby irredeemably discredited. This book denies neither the depth nor the seriousness of Heidegger's involvement. On the contrary, new aspects of it are disclosed. None the less, in opposition to the prevailing tide of opinion, Julian Young argues that Heidegger's philosophy is not, in fact, compromised in any of its phases, and that the acceptance of it is fully consistent with a deep commitment to liberal democracy. This striking and original thesis is grounded in an astute examination of Heidegger's thought that provides the reader with a clear and valuable exposition of the philosophy of one of the twentieth century's greatest thinkers.