Defining the Being that does the defining, the awareness that is aware, the formless thing that gives form, seems to be an almost impossible task to do through language. Some philosophers arduously endeavor to explain these concepts in convoluted and seemingly clever ways. Making up new names for old terms in an effort to build a new foundation through which the ineffable could be understood. The essay ‘What Heidegger Means by Being-in-the-World’ by Roy Hornsby is a good example of this arduous endeavor.
The main focus of Hornsby’s essay deals with Martin Heidegger’s definition of the entity that experiences and exists in the world. This entity, Heidegger calls ‘Dasein’, and exists only in the world, and not without it. Dasein has two main …show more content…
The ‘Authentic existence’ however, is achieved when the individual realizes who they are, and distinguishes itself as a unique entity. The ‘authentic Self’ is then ‘concerned’ with their unique destiny, as oppose to the ‘inauthentic Self’ or ‘Theyself’ which is on par with the status quo and has no individuality (Hornsby page 3, paragraph 3). Finally, Heidegger gives the term ‘Verfall’ as “a fallen away”, “the lack of perception of an existence carried out in terms of ‘oneness’ and ‘theyness’.” This ‘verfall’ is stated to be a prerequisite for Dasein’s realization of itself. (Hornsby page 5, paragraph …show more content…
People in ‘social consciousness’ are living for other people’s acceptance, not for their own uniqueness. The distinction between ‘idle chatter’ or ‘talk’ of the ‘inauthentic Self’, and ‘the speech of the authentic Self’ is also something that is important but goes unnoticed. I believe that most of the time we speak with mindless awareness, not even knowing what our words mean, and thus they become devoid of power. And anxiety is a state, which brings about ‘presence’ but in a paralyzing manner. Although ‘Presence’ to me is the state in which one becomes the observer and is free from thought or
The main focus of Hornsby’s essay deals with Martin Heidegger’s definition of the entity that experiences and exists in the world. This entity, Heidegger calls ‘Dasein’, and exists only in the world, and not without it. Dasein has two main …show more content…
The ‘Authentic existence’ however, is achieved when the individual realizes who they are, and distinguishes itself as a unique entity. The ‘authentic Self’ is then ‘concerned’ with their unique destiny, as oppose to the ‘inauthentic Self’ or ‘Theyself’ which is on par with the status quo and has no individuality (Hornsby page 3, paragraph 3). Finally, Heidegger gives the term ‘Verfall’ as “a fallen away”, “the lack of perception of an existence carried out in terms of ‘oneness’ and ‘theyness’.” This ‘verfall’ is stated to be a prerequisite for Dasein’s realization of itself. (Hornsby page 5, paragraph …show more content…
People in ‘social consciousness’ are living for other people’s acceptance, not for their own uniqueness. The distinction between ‘idle chatter’ or ‘talk’ of the ‘inauthentic Self’, and ‘the speech of the authentic Self’ is also something that is important but goes unnoticed. I believe that most of the time we speak with mindless awareness, not even knowing what our words mean, and thus they become devoid of power. And anxiety is a state, which brings about ‘presence’ but in a paralyzing manner. Although ‘Presence’ to me is the state in which one becomes the observer and is free from thought or