Thinking Modernity Through to the Other Side

Heidegger as a Bridge from Modernity to Postmodernity

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher who is widely considered one of the most important figures in continental philosophy of the 20th century. He is best known for his 1927 book "Being and Time," in which he argues that human existence is characterized by a state of "being-towards-death." Heidegger's work has been interpreted in a number of ways, but many have seen it as a critique of modernity and an exploration of the possibilities of postmodernity. Heidegger believed that modernity, as represented by the technological and scientific advances of the modern world, has led to a loss of authenticity in human experience and a reduction of the world to a collection of objects to be manipulated and controlled. He argued that the human being is no longer in a relationship of "being-in-the-world" but rather in a relationship of "standing-reserve" to the world. He believed that this loss of authenticity can be overcome by a "turning" or "releasement" towards the things themselves, which can allow us to experience the world in a more authentic way. Heidegger's ideas have been influential in a variety of fields, including philosophy, literary theory, and cultural studies, and have been associated with the development of postmodern thought. Some have argued that Heidegger's critique of modernity and emphasis on authenticity anticipated many of the concerns of postmodernism.