Heidegger, Metaphysics & Wheelbarrows
Richard Oxenberg gives a poetic introduction to Heidegger’s Being and Time.
I merely point out the obvious here: that, when you are “thrown” historically and where you are “thrown” culturally and experientially, can only be played down or just shrugged off in the manner in which so many objectivists do.
In fact, they have to play that down or shunt it aside in order to convince themselves that their own doctrinaire moral narratives and political agendas transcend all that mere “existential stuff”. Others are obligated to share their own value judgments precisely because they are derived [philosophically or otherwise] from the most rational thinking of all.
Well, Dasein may discover this philosophically in a intellectual contraption, but dasein has to deal with all of the particular variables that come to encompass one’s own unique personal life. And isn’t it basically this anxiety which propels so many to embrace one of another rendition of “the psychology of objectivism”? Subsume all the uncertainty, confusion, ambiguity in the conviction that in being “one of us” you’re one of the good guys.
On the other hand, this part, even as an “intellectual contraption” truly resonates for me:
Only, for me, the little “d” dasein comes to revolve more around this:
1] For one reason or another [rooted largely in dasein], you are taught or come into contact with [through your upbringing, a friend, a book, an experience etc.] a worldview, a philosophy of life.
2] Over time, you become convinced that this perspective expresses and encompasses the most rational and objective truth. This truth then becomes increasingly more vital, more essential to you as a foundation, a justification, a celebration of all that is moral as opposed to immoral, rational as opposed to irrational.
3] Eventually, for some, they begin to bump into others who feel the same way; they may even begin to actively seek out folks similarly inclined to view the world in a particular way.
4] Some begin to share this philosophy with family, friends, colleagues, associates, Internet denizens; increasingly it becomes more and more a part of their life. It becomes, in other words, more intertwined in their personal relationships with others…it begins to bind them emotionally and psychologically.
5] As yet more time passes, they start to feel increasingly compelled not only to share their Truth with others but, in turn, to vigorously defend it against any and all detractors as well.
6] For some, it can reach the point where they are no longer able to realistically construe an argument that disputes their own as merely a difference of opinion; they see it instead as, for all intents and purposes, an attack on their intellectual integrity…on their very Self.
7] Finally, a stage is reached [again for some] where the original philosophical quest for truth, for wisdom has become so profoundly integrated into their self-identity [professionally, socially, psychologically, emotionally] defending it has less and less to do with philosophy at all. And certainly less and less to do with “logic”.
Or what I call an “objectivist”.