Heidegger's 'Being and Time': A Reader's Guide

Description

Heidegger's 'Being and Time': A Reader's Guide by William Blattner is a clear and accessible introduction to Martin Heidegger's seminal philosophical work, Being and Time. Designed for students and readers approaching this complex and challenging text, Blattner’s guide helps unpack Heidegger's intricate arguments and central ideas, offering a step-by-step roadmap through the major themes and concepts. Blattner explains Heidegger's analysis of human existence, or Dasein, and explores key topics such as being-in-the-world, authenticity, care, temporality, and death. He situates Being and Time within the broader context of existentialism and phenomenology, clarifying Heidegger’s project of reawakening the question of the meaning of Being—a question that he believed had been neglected by the Western philosophical tradition. The guide also addresses the historical and intellectual background of Being and Time, Heidegger’s philosophical influences (such as Edmund Husserl), and the later developments in his thinking. Blattner’s commentary is systematic and thorough, making difficult ideas more approachable without oversimplifying them. He includes helpful summaries, glossaries, and suggestions for further reading to aid understanding. Ideal for philosophy students, scholars, and anyone seeking to engage with Heidegger's thought, Heidegger's 'Being and Time': A Reader's Guide is an invaluable companion to one of the most influential and difficult works of modern philosophy.