Heidegger and DAO - (Daoism and the Human Experience) by Eric S Nelson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this innovative contribution, Eric S. Nelson offers a contextualized and systematic exploration of the Chinese sources and German language interpretations that shaped Heidegger's engagement with Daoism and his thinking of the thing, nothingness, and the freedom of releasement (Gelassenheit). Encompassing forgotten and recently published historical sources, including Heidegger's Daoist and Buddhist-related reflections in his lectures and notebooks, Nelson presents a critical intercultural reinterpretation of Heidegger's philosophical journey.

Nelson analyzes the intersections and differences between the Daodejing, the Zhuangzi, and Heidegger's philosophy and the linguistic and conceptual shifts in Heidegger's thinking that correlate with his encounters and interactions with Daoist, Buddhist, and East Asian texts and interlocutors. He thereby traces hints for encountering things and environments anew, models for intercultural hermeneutics, and ways of reimagining the thing, nothingness, and freedom with and beyond Heidegger's thought.

This work elucidates the thing, the mystery, and freedom in Heidegger and Daoism in Part I and Heidegger's thinking of nothingness, emptiness, and the clearing in relation to Daoist and Buddhist philosophy in Part II. In each part, Nelson unfolds a fresh perspective for thinking further with Heidegger and East Asian philosophies in relation to the contemporary existential and environmental situation for the sake of nourishing life amidst damaged life.

Review Quotes

"Nelson contributes valuable new insights not only into the meaning of the Dao and Buddhism and their relation to Heidegger's conception of being as emptiness and nothingness, but also into what these three philosophies share, despite originating independently worlds apart, in regard to an ethically and spiritually satisfying way of life. There are very few philosophers, even now, even today, capable of engaging the Dao, Buddhism and Heidegger's phenomenology so deeply, comprehensively and with so much scholarly erudition." --David Michael Kleinberg-Levin, Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy, Northwestern University, USA

"This remarkable book explores the interconnections between Heidegger's and Daoist philosophies. The critical reexamination of Heidegger's interactions with Daoist sources offers invaluable insights into alternative modes of attunement and dwelling, addressing contemporary ecological and social crises. An essential read for anyone interested in philosophy, ecology, or social justice." --Jana S. Rosker, Professor of Chinese Philosophy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

"In this exciting new study, Nelson provides compelling insights and arguments for a new understanding of some of the most difficult concepts of both Western and non-Western philosophy: world, thing, and nothing. Nelson's ziranist approach should be compulsory study material for all interested in Heidegger, Daoism, Buddhism and their intersections." --Steven Burik, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Singapore Management University, Singapore

"Eric Nelson's Heidegger and Dao: Things, Nothingness, Freedom is a groundbreaking study, which illuminates Heidegger's concept of "letting-be" through the Daoist vision of living in concert with nature. Nelson shows how "Dao" provides an ethical principle of harmonious dwelling to complement Heidegger's account of "Ereignis" as a meditative journey." --Frank Schalow, Professor of Philosophy and Research Philosophy, University of New Orleans, USA

"The book accomplishes something almost beyond its own scope: namely, it shows that Heideggerian philosophy in the 21st century does not need to be stuck in its frequently prevalent solipsistic pastiche, but can still crack open the ontological assumptions so dearly held by many of us." --Global Intellectual History

About the Author