POETRY, LANGUAGE, THOUGHT

by Martin Heidegger ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 6, 1971

Seven writings, appearing over a span of the thirty-five years, are collected here to show how the noted German existentialist interrelates poetry, thought, and language with his conception of man's existence. The treatment of poetry goes beyond aesthetic considerations, the level at which much criticism is content to remain, to consider poetry as a fundamental -- perhaps the fundamental -- means through which man can understand his existence and make his response to that which calls him from beyond. Genuine thinking, in Heidegger's view, is poetic, as is all language in its origins, because poetry is a speaking of truth, ""the saying of the unconcealedness of beings,"" The first-rate thinker and the first rank poet both must achieve a kind of thought which has the ""purity and thickness and solidity of poetry."" Poetry, in particular, opens up man's life in relation to the fourfold world of earth, sky, mortals, and divinities. In such dark times as ours, the calling of the poet is to help us see again ""the bright possibility of a true world."" Heidegger expresses his thought in simple, warm-toned language, which the translator has faithfully rendered. He cares about poetry, because he cares about men. This collection will be of value to students of Heidegger (who are always tempted to nonpoetic abstractions) for the welcome and rich elaboration the essays offer.

Pub Date: Oct. 6, 1971

ISBN: 0060937289

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION