Heidegger's "Dasein"- Living Authentically in the Face of Death

This is a meetup for non-serious people to discuss serious topics. This Meetup is a more in-depth discussion than usual, focusing on Martin Heidegger's Time and Being.

The full text can be found here (http://pdf-objects.com/files/Heidegger-Martin-Being-and-Time-trans.-Macquarrie-Robinson-Blackwell-1962.pdf) but there's no need to read the full text to participate in the discussion.

We'll be focusing on three excerpts from the text. The excerpts and some discussion points are below, but it will still be a free-form discussion, so all thoughts are welcome. We will talk together about any concepts that require further clarification during the discussion so everyone has a basic understanding.

Excerpt 1: The Individualizing Power of Death

"The ownmost possibility is non-relational. Anticipation allows Dasein [human existence] to understand that that potentiality-for-being in which its ownmost Being is an issue, must be taken over by Dasein alone. Death does not just 'belong' to one's own Dasein in an undifferentiated way; death lays claim to it as an individual Dasein. The non-relational character of death, as understood in anticipation, individualizes Dasein down to itself."

Points for Discussion:

Death as a Non-Relational Possibility: This excerpt highlights the deeply personal nature of death. It is not something that can be shared or experienced vicariously through others. Each individual must confront their own mortality.

Individualization through Anticipation: Heidegger argues that by anticipating death, by acknowledging it as an inherent possibility of our Being, we become truly individualized. This is in contrast to the "they-self," which seeks to evade death and conform to societal norms.

Throwness and the Limits of Control: This passage also touches on the concept of throwness. While we are thrown into a world with others, death is something we face alone. This emphasizes the limits of our control over our own Being and the ultimate individualizing power of death.

Excerpt 2: Fallenness and the Evasion of Death

"The "they" gives its approval, and aggravates the temptation to cover up from oneself one's ownmost Being-towards-death. This evasive concealment in the face of death dominates everydayness so stubbornly that, in Being with one another, the 'neighbours' often still keep talking the 'dying person' into the belief that he will escape death and soon return to the tranquillized everydayness of the world of his concern. Such 'solicitude' is meant to 'console' him. It insists upon bringing him back into Dasein, while in addition it helps him to 'forget' that the issue for him is one of Being-towards-death, even when it is not explicitly engaged in 'thinking about death'."

Points for Discussion:

The Role of the "They" in Evasion: This excerpt vividly portrays how societal forces, represented by the "they," encourage us to avoid confronting death. This evasion manifests in everyday language and behavior, even in our interactions with those who are dying.

Tranquillized Everydayness and Fallenness: Heidegger connects this evasion with the concept of fallenness. We become absorbed in the everyday concerns of the "world," seeking comfort and distraction rather than facing the reality of our own finitude.

Authenticity vs. Inauthenticity: This passage raises the question of how to live authentically in the face of death. If evasion is the norm, how can we break free from the tranquillizing influence of the "they" and confront death as a possibility that shapes our Being?

Excerpt 3: Anticipation and Authentic Being-Towards-Death

"Authentic Being-towards-death signifies an existential possibility of Dasein. This ontical potentiality-for-Being must, in turn, be ontologically possible. What are the existential conditions of this possibility? How are they themselves to become accessible?"

Points for Discussion:

The Possibility of Authenticity: This excerpt directly poses the question of how to achieve an authentic Being-towards-death. Heidegger acknowledges that authentically facing our finitude is a genuine possibility for Dasein, but he leaves open the question of how to attain it.

Existential Conditions for Authenticity: This passage invites a deeper examination of the conditions that make authentic Being-towards-death possible. What are the internal and external factors that enable us to confront our mortality without evasion?

Anticipation as a Path to Authenticity: Building on our previous discussions, we can explore Heidegger's concept of "anticipation" as a potential path to authenticity. How does understanding death as a possibility that is always present, yet indefinite, enable us to live more resolutely and choose our own possibilities?

FYI, as a trigger warning, Heidegger has an extremely troubling personal history, being a member of the Nazi Party in Germany during the second world war. That being said, he is still one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. At some point in the discussion, we will talk about his personal life, the historical context, and how this might have influenced his work. Totally understandable if you do not wish to discuss the ideas of a Nazi!

Looking forward to it!