Aristotle's Metaphysics 1–3: On the Essence and Actuality of Force

by Martin Heidegger, Walter Brogan (Translator), Peter Warnek (Translator)

Martin Heidegger’s reading of Aristotle was one of the pivotal influences in the development of his philosophy. First published in German in 1981 as volume 33 of Heidegger's Collected Works, this book translates a lecture course he presented at the University of Freiburg in 1931. Heidegger's careful translation and his probing commentary on the first three chapters of Book IX of Metaphysics show the close correlation between his phenomenological interpretation of the Greeks (especially of Aristotle) and his critique of metaphysics. Additionally, Heidegger's confrontation with Aristotle's Greek text makes a significant contribution to contemporary scholarship on Aristotle, particularly the understanding of potentiality in Aristotle's thought. Finally, the book exemplifies Heidegger's gift for teaching students how to read a philosophical text and how to question that text in a philosophical way.

Genres: Philosophy, Metaphysics

203 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 1995

About the author

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was a German philosopher whose work is perhaps most readily associated with phenomenology and existentialism, although his thinking should be identified as part of such philosophical movements only with extreme care and qualification. His ideas have exerted a seminal influence on the development of contemporary European philosophy. They have also had an impact far beyond philosophy, for example in architectural theory (see e.g., Sharr 2007), literary criticism (see e.g., Ziarek 1989), theology (see e.g., Caputo 1993), psychotherapy (see e.g., Binswanger 1943/1964, Guignon 1993) and cognitive science (see e.g., Dreyfus 1992, 2008; Wheeler 2005; Kiverstein and Wheeler forthcoming).

Reviews

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essence is presence you dorks, how can you not SEE that?

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This course/book is a close reading, translation, and interpretation of the first 3 books in Aristotle's Metaphysics. At the core of the book is the distinction between essence and existence; in particular the force/movement/capability/actuality aspect of existence along with an inquiry into the essence of this actuality. This in turn goes back to the question of the existence or non-existence of non-beings (i.e., Parmenides, Zeno, Plato). Heidegger's main purpose here is to exhibit the Greek concept of being-present; concept that he will eventually appropriate and elaborate in his fundamental concepts of truth and Being. He is also claiming that by exclusively focusing on essence - the entire western tradition settled in some naive understanding of existence as presence-at-hand. This is pretty much how we take presence/reality/existence these days – including that of beings like humans, time, truth, language, and gods.

In Metaphysics's Book 3, there is this apparently minor argument between Aristotle and Megarins (i.e., some disciples of both Socrates and the Eleatics) regarding the existence or non-existence of a capability - for example the craft/skills in a potter or a carpenter. The Megerians claimed that a capability exists only when it is actualized, while Aristotle insisted that it exists even when not actualized (in fact, for Aristotle it exists especially when gathered and right before being enacted - as for Aristotle such capabilities are directly related with λόγος/logos). However, both the Megarians and Aristotle shared the understanding of existence as presence and this in turn goes back to production/work. This Ancient Greek background of production/work makes this minor argument between Aristotle and Megarins extremely important for Heidegger.

According to Heidegger - “not only did the Greeks, Plato and Aristotle, carry out the interpretation of this phenomenon of production, but the basic concepts of philosophy have grown out of and within this interpretation”. This concept of production/work had nothing to do with the Marxist or economic one, and according to Heidegger it is deeply embedded in his “Being and Time” through the discussion of equipment, being-at-hand, and similar. The work character of something is determined by its outward appearance - as finished and intrinsically completed - which is to be brought forth and produced in a single piece of work. To produce – in addition to make - means to make something presently available. Thus, having been produced implies at the same time “being finished” and “being available at this time ”. For the Ancient Greeks and for Heidegger - this having been produced is the actuality of the work and it reveals itself in the “is”.

[Ryan Jarjoura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it’s important to enter this book on Heidegger’s own terms, namely that this is first and foremost a close reading and commentary of three chapters of Metaphysics IX. It is less an exposition of his own thought and more-so a demonstration of how he arrived at his revolutionary philosophy.

During the chapters on the Megarians we really see how rigorous Heidegger really is in his approach. He had a deep understanding of the philosophical debates of antiquity, and no question is left uninterrogated. It is through this very in depth poking and prodding and uncovering that he is able to arrive at extremely original questions like: “What does it mean to be a cause?”

[John Swisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A completely different way of being from what we have in mind when we observe the rain stop”

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars given by measure of Heidegger standards. Too many passages are under-argued, especially in contexts where it seems like he is about to come through. This text is probably more useful for Aristotle scholars believe it or not - i.e. *not* people interested in Heidegger. A fairly close and interesting reading of Metaphysics IX Ch.1-3 nonetheless.

[David Markwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heidegger thinks with and through Aristotle on some of the key questions of Metaphysics. A must for anyone interested in Heidegger, Aristotle or Metaphysics.

[SirriCan · Rating 5 out of 5]

aman aman.