Human Nature and Mind in Martin Heidegger

Abstract

When Professor Tymieniecka asked me to present a brief paper at this Third Symposium on Phenomenology and Oriental Philosophy, she said that what was needed for the occasion was a straightforward presentation of some of the central ideas of Heidegger on the questions of human nature and mind. The reason for her request, no doubt, is her experience that too frequently discussions of the thought of Heidegger quickly reach a point where argument about what a particular text means pushes aside fruitful dialogue. I shall make every attempt to respond to the request of Professor Tymieniecka. However, the thought ]of Heidegger is itself not always as straightforward as it is hermeneu- tical. Moreover, I cannot claim to have mastered Heidegger’s thought to the extent that I can claim to be able to give a definitive interpretation of his meaning of human nature and mind. With these two caveats in mind I will make my presentation as clear as I am able; I hope it will be suitable to enable us to carry on a fruitful dialogue.