Basic Writings

Basic Writings collects ten essential works by philosopher Martin Heidegger, carefully selected and introduced by David Farrell Krell. The anthology spans Heidegger's career from 1927 to 1964, presenting his most influential texts in English translation. The collection includes Heidegger's landmark essay "What Is Metaphysics?" along with other crucial pieces like "The Origin of the Work of Art" and "The Question Concerning Technology." Each work is preceded by Krell's contextual introduction that situates the piece within Heidegger's philosophical development and historical period. These writings explore fundamental questions about being, truth, technology, art, and human existence. Heidegger's distinct philosophical approach and terminology are on display throughout the collection, demonstrating his departure from traditional metaphysics and his unique contribution to 20th century thought. Through these selected works, readers encounter Heidegger's radical rethinking of existence and his critique of modern technological society. The collection reveals his enduring influence on philosophy, environmental ethics, literary theory, and other fields of contemporary thought.

Readers value this collection for making Heidegger's key philosophical works accessible in one volume. Students and academics note that Krell's translations and commentary help decode Heidegger's complex language and concepts. Readers appreciate: - Comprehensive selection of writings spanning Heidegger's career - Clear organization of texts by theme/period - Helpful introductions before each section Common criticisms: - Dense, difficult reading even with translations - Some translations lose nuance of original German - Print size too small in newer editions - High price point for paperback Review Stats: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ ratings) Notable reader comment: "Unlike many philosophy collections that just excerpt key passages, this volume provides complete texts needed to understand Heidegger's arguments in full context." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers mention using this alongside secondary sources or study guides for better comprehension.

Being and Time by Martin Heidegger Heidegger's foundational philosophical text explores the nature of being, temporality, and human existence through phenomenological analysis.

The Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology by Edmund Husserl This text examines the relationship between scientific knowledge and human experience through phenomenological methods.

Truth and Method by Hans-Georg Gadamer This work develops hermeneutics as a philosophical approach to understanding human interpretation and knowledge.

Introduction to Metaphysics by Martin Heidegger This series of lectures investigates fundamental questions about being, existence, and the nature of reality.

The Visible and the Invisible by Maurice Merleau-Ponty This text explores perception, embodiment, and the relationship between consciousness and the physical world through phenomenological investigation.

🔹 While most English translations of Heidegger's works were published decades after their German originals, "Basic Writings" (first published in 1977) became one of the most influential collections for introducing English-speaking readers to Heidegger's philosophy. 🔹 Martin Heidegger wrote his masterwork "Being and Time" (included in part in Basic Writings) while under immense time pressure to publish something or risk losing his position at the University of Marburg. 🔹 The term "Dasein," central to Heidegger's philosophy and discussed extensively in Basic Writings, cannot be directly translated to English - it literally means "being-there" but carries deeper philosophical implications about human existence. 🔹 Editor David Farrell Krell carefully selected the essays in Basic Writings to showcase Heidegger's philosophical development across four decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s. 🔹 The collection includes Heidegger's famous essay "The Question Concerning Technology," which warns about the dangers of modern technology reducing everything to "standing reserve" - mere resources waiting to be used.