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Meaning, Dasein and art: new paths to continuity in Heidegger's thought
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Date
2024
Authors
Lan, Ying
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
The question of meaning in Heidegger's thought has provoked debates on whether his project is fundamentally continuous, or if there might be a break, a “turn” or a discontinuity in his thinking. This study argues for continuity. This study argues that, in Heidegger's inquiry, this continuity thesis constitutes a path to the source of the question of the meaning of Being, the unfolding of the question itself, especially Heidegger's consistency in answering the question of the meaning of Being in the works exploring Dasein's essence, art and truth. Besides that, while dealing with this continuity-discontinuity debate, this study attempts to address some of the challenges and criticisms related to it to clarify Heidegger's claims better. Firstly, meaning theory originates from Heidegger's response to modern logic and method. Heidegger's theory of meaning is distinct from modern logic and phenomenology but closely related to them at the beginning of its formulation. The theory of meaning as a question of the meaning of Being originates in the differentiation between logic and reality. Heidegger attempts to develop a field to bridge the dichotomy, the pre-theoretical field of praxis. Secondly, Heidegger's unique interpretation of this question. The realization of this field of praxis first commences in the existential structure of human existence and continues as an origin of occurrence in the work of art. This interpretation is the cause of the dispute between continuity and discontinuity. The current interpretation takes a position of continuity because of the methodological choice to pursue the meaning of Being and because this question cannot be independent and separate in the interpretation of Dasein and in art, which jointly constitute Heidegger's claim at the very beginning. Based on an affirmation of the continuity of interpreting meaning, this thesis is committed to clarifying some of the misunderstandings or not-so-adequate readings of Heidegger and considering how Heidegger's theory of meaning might engage more productively with the more current issues of our time. Given the historical origin of theories of meaning, human practice cannot be pre-constructed but can only be an “adaptation” (Ereignis) as a meaningful way of Being. In other words, if we accept Heidegger's position, we cannot deliberately begin an artistic practice in order to acquire new intelligibility, but rather only have open to ourselves an adaptation to the context we have. More importantly, the adaptation is not a subjective creation or passive acceptance, but an active enactment of a given situation.
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Controlled Access
Keywords
Heidegger , Meaning , Dasein , Art , Continuity-discontinuity
Citation
Lan, Y. 2024. Meaning, Dasein and art: new paths to continuity in Heidegger's thought. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.