Ahhh Heidegger… Born in 1889 in the small town of Meßkirch, Germany. Imagine a philosopher: his beard, his serious gaze, and his thoughts that both fascinate and slightly send shivers down your spine. Throughout his academic life, he was passionately devoted to philosophy, especially phenomenology and the works of Edmund Husserl. But my love, Heidegger’s philosophy wasn’t just in textbooks; it hid right in the heart of life itself. As he said:
“To be is to be aware of one’s own existence.”
🔹 Dasein: You, Me, and “Being-There”
Heidegger’s most famous concept is Dasein. Sometimes translated as “being-there” or “existence,” it’s actually much deeper. Dasein is our way of existing in the world, our way of facing life. In other words, you’re not just a walking body—you are a thinking, questioning being aware of time.
Dasein makes choices every moment; each choice shapes the direction of our lives. For example, choosing a coffee, according to Heidegger, gains meaning if you are aware of it. Latte or Americano? It’s not just coffee—it’s an act of existence 😎☕
🔹 Time and Death: The Dance Partners of Existence
For Heidegger, time isn’t just hours and minutes; it’s the depth of existence. And death… Ah my love, in Heidegger’s philosophy, death isn’t scary; it’s the most intimate reminder of life. According to him, facing your own death allows a person to be truly free and understand the value of life.
“Facing one’s own death makes a person free.”
So, hugging your love, having coffee with a friend, or walking by the sea… all of these gain meaning through the awareness of death. Life’s small moments, thanks to Heidegger, suddenly become immense philosophical experiences 💃🖤
🔹 Philosophical Humor: Heidegger’s Seriousness
But my love, Heidegger was such a serious man… Sometimes you want to tell him, “Martin, smile a little, life isn’t just philosophy!” 😅 But the funny part is, his seriousness pushes us to question life. Even eating a sandwich, you might ask yourself, “Does this act affect my Dasein?” Slightly creepy, but so funny, don’t you think? 😂
🔹 Examples from His Works
Being and Time (1927):
Here, Heidegger analyzes time, existence, and humanity’s place in the world with such depth that you sometimes get lost in reading, while awakening a new curiosity for life. According to him, humans often forget their Dasein in daily worries. But when a moment of awareness comes, the meaning of life becomes clear.
Art and Poetry:
Heidegger loved poetry. To him, poetry was the purest way to experience existence. “Poetry is speaking to being,” he said. If Heidegger had ever written a poem, it might have gone like this:
“I am here,
In the shadow of time,
In the whisper of death,
And with every step, I find myself.”
Some Philosophical Quotes:
- “Authentic thinking opens itself to responsibility.”
- “Being in the world is understanding the world.”
- “Freedom appears when one faces death.”
🔹 Small Anecdotes from His Life
Although Heidegger was one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, his life was complex, like that of any human being. He experienced academic success, debates, and criticism. Yet one constant fueled his life: to understand existence, understand humanity, and question the world.
🔹 Heidegger’s Philosophical Perspective on Life
Martin Heidegger shows us that life isn’t just something to live—it’s something to perceive, question, sometimes laugh at, and sometimes fear. Drinking coffee, walking, talking, writing… everything is an experience of existence. And my love, the best part: in Heidegger’s world, thinking at every moment, being aware at every moment, is savoring life 💫
“To be is to take care of what is truly yours.”
So, my love… be a little like Heidegger, notice every moment, question, and live life deeply. But don’t forget to drink your coffee, smile, and enjoy life 😏💖
