What Is Called Thinking?

What Is Called Thinking? presents Martin Heidegger's lectures from 1951-1952 at the University of Freiburg. The text examines the nature and essence of human thought, exploring why modern humans may not yet be truly thinking. The book takes the form of two lecture series, with the first addressing the relationship between thinking and being, while the second focuses on pre-Socratic philosophy and poetry. Heidegger analyzes texts from Parmenides, Nietzsche, and other philosophers to construct his investigation of thought. This work stands as Heidegger's most complete presentation of his later philosophical ideas. Hannah Arendt considered it equal in importance to Being and Time within Heidegger's body of work. The text challenges fundamental assumptions about the act of thinking itself, suggesting that genuine thinking requires a radical departure from traditional philosophical methods and established academic approaches to knowledge.

Readers describe this as one of Heidegger's more accessible works, though still demanding multiple readings to grasp. The book compiles his 1951-1952 university lectures. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of how humans relate to thought - The breakdown of Nietzsche's ideas - Concrete examples that ground abstract concepts - Translation quality by J. Glenn Gray Common criticisms: - Dense, circular writing style - Repetitive passages - Requires deep familiarity with philosophy - Some find his etymological arguments unconvincing From online reviews: "Forces you to slow down and actually think" - Goodreads reviewer "The first 50 pages nearly broke my brain" - Amazon review "His analysis of memory and thanks/thinking connection was worth the effort" - Philosophy Forums Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ reviews) The text challenges most readers but those who persist report gaining new perspectives on thought itself.

Being and Time by Martin Heidegger Heidegger's masterwork develops the foundational concepts that underpin his theory of thinking and being through an examination of human existence in time.

The Life of the Mind by Hannah Arendt This exploration of thinking, willing, and judging builds upon and responds to Heidegger's work while developing a distinct theory of mental activity.

Introduction to Metaphysics by Martin Heidegger These lectures examine the fundamental question of being and nothingness through analysis of Greek thought and poetry.

The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes This investigation into the nature of consciousness and thought presents a theory about how human cognition evolved from earlier forms of mental organization.

Poetry, Language, Thought by Martin Heidegger These essays connect thinking to poetry and language through examinations of art, dwelling, and the nature of things.

🔹 The book's original German title "Was Heißt Denken?" is a deliberately ambiguous phrase that can be interpreted in multiple ways, including "What is Called Thinking?", "What Calls for Thinking?", and "What Does Thinking Mean?" 🔹 Heidegger delivered these lectures during his final semester of teaching at the University of Freiburg in 1951-1952, marking the culmination of his academic career. 🔹 The text controversially suggests that "science does not think" - a statement meant to highlight that scientific methodology, while powerful, operates differently from philosophical thinking. 🔹 Throughout the book, Heidegger extensively engages with Nietzsche's philosophy, particularly his statement that "the wasteland grows" - using it as a metaphor for modern humanity's relationship with thought. 🔹 The work influenced several major philosophical movements, including French post-structuralism and American pragmatism, despite (or perhaps because of) its challenging and unconventional approach to philosophical writing.