Letter on Humanism by Martin Heidegger

Part V: Letter on Humanism, from Basic Writings by Martin Heidegger

Our next selection from Basic Writings by Martin Heidegger is Part V: Letter on Humanism.

This is Heidegger's response to Jean-Paul Sartre's essay Existentialism is a Humanism. In there, Sartre shares the view that there is no objectively definable "human nature" or essence that precedes our existance, and that we're abandoned to the obligation to choose and act freely - with that freedom being rooted in our subjectivity. Heidegger wants to keep Sartre's focus on our freedom of action, but has some views to share about both Sartre's atheism, and his reliance on subjectivity. Is Heidegger really an existentialist? We'll see...

Who are we?
We're a reading group that welcomes all - young, old, completely new to philosophy or well versed, from keen students to those who've never darkened the door of a lecture room. We read both long & short texts - but you don't need to have been coming from the start of our longer reads. You can dive in at any point along the way.

We usually head to the pub to continue the conversation after our meetings.