Being and Time

It has been said, and not without good reason, that much of what we know as modern Continental Philosophy is no more than a mere footnote to Martin Heidegger's (1889-1976) mammoth Being and Time. Without doubt Heidegger's major work this translation, by John Macquarrie and Edward Robinson, was the first English interpretation of Sein und Zeit, Heidegger's groundbreaking investigation into the question of Being, and although it has its critics it has served as the standard rendering of the work for many years. Whilst Joan Stambaugh's more idiomatic translation is certainly a little easier to read, the Macquarrie and Robinson work has not been surpassed for its fidelity to the original German. Serious students of Heidegger should perhaps read both translations whilst bearing in mind that Heidegger himself was profoundly concerned with the thought structures of any language that so handicap the possibility of translation. Being and Time is an essential reference book for anyone interested in modern philosophy. --Mark Thwaite

View other editions of Being and Time.
View books by Martin Heidegger.

Magisterial!!! - Rated
In a century crowded with philosophical masterworks 'Being and Time' stands supreme. Heidegger's virtual reinvention of the the basic framework of Western philosophy is an extraordinary achievement. In spite of its manifold difficulties, this is a work of true genius and it should be read with the most careful attention by anyone interested in in post-classical philosophy. Unmissable!!!

Nazi apologetics - Rated
Don't forget - the guy was a Nazi. Read it - if you must - with that in mind, and then you might just understand why this whiole book attacks science and reason. It is an attcak on all the values of the Enlightenment, and a hymn to dogma and confusion .

You Won't Understand This - Rated
You won't understand this work. The reviews of the previous Amazonians who purport to have read this are highly suspect: maybe they read an online synopsis or a Short Introduction to Heidegger. Yes I agree, from what I've heard this book is a masterpiece...but without a good four years of study at a top university in philosophy and the history thereof you will enjoy this book only as a door stop or a paper weight. There's nothing wrong with that: having this book on your shelf (preferably where visitors can see it) will brighten your room up considerably but when you start to read Heidegger's magnum opus you'll understand why Heidegger is so revered and why none of the reviewers have read this book: what he says is so profound that it is almost uncomprehendable to you or me. If you're looking for something to discuss over coffee with your friends, buy The Da Vinci Code, if you're looking for change-the-world literature, buy this.

True Genius! - Rated

This book is pure genius in the most literal sense, and is without a doubt the most important philosophical work to be produced in recent years (and possibly ever). Whilst Heidegger is suitably well read (and taught) in the academic world, the full implications of his insights have yet to 'sink in' fully. Once this has happened Heidegger's thought will most certainly be seen to be the foundation of a truly momentous paradigm shift in consciousness and thought on a general level.

It is frequently asserted that Heidegger (and in particular Being and Time) is almost completely impossible to understand. This may well be true for those readers that attempt to 'dip in' to his works; or who wish to read something at speed. There are no 'quick insights' to be gained from Heidegger. However, anyone with a modicum of patience and the ability to study rather than simply read will not have this issue. A small amount of preparatory reading (especially of Husserl) also doesn't hurt.

The main difficulty is the language used, however this is simply something that one gets used to by progressing through the book. The introduction may seem impenetrable on first reading; but read it again mid-way and afterwards and it makes complete sense.

A note on the translations: this version (Macquarrie and Robinson) is by far the easiest to read, and is the closest to the original German. The alternative (Joan Stambaugh), whilst it has been designed to be more accessible, is actually somehow a lot more confusing. However, be warned: the Macquarrie and Robinson version leaves all Greek terms and most Latin terms completely un-translated, which can be very irritating. It may therefore be advisable to have both copies.

Making Thought Exiciting. - Rated
Lectures on the Concept of Time is merely a starting point for this great work, they are footnotes before the fact. What needs to be held in mind is that when you read this work, if you understand this work, you will be presented with your own thoughts and the thoughts that define the past century. The sections on "They" particularly evidence this.

Ignore any reviews pointing to the lectures as the means of getting to Heidggers thought, they are mere pointers and the Concept of Time lectures do little more than enable you to understand the first page of this work and its introduction of three types of time. If you want to know the meaning of life, that is be given the tools to understand the meaning of YOUR life read this book. If you want to dress in black and mistakingly demarcate yourself as a Philosopher then buy "Being and Nothingness" AKA the collected works of Hegel, Nietzsche and Heidegger.

If you enjoy philosophy, as I do, then you should be excited reading a great thinker at work particularly when they are trying to bring philosophy back from the arid, elitist and academic pursuit it once was and sadly has again become. This book tried to arrest a crisis in philosophy but was its final dying whimpers...