Heidegger and Aristotle: The Twofoldness of Being (SUNY series in Contemporary Continental Philosophy)

Interprets Heidegger’s phenomenological reading of Aristotle’s philosophy.Walter A. Brogan’s long-awaited book exploring Heidegger’s phenomenological reading of Aristotle’s philosophy places particular emphasis on the Physics, Metaphysics, Ethics, and Rhetoric. Controversial and challenging, Heidegger and Aristotle claims that it is Heidegger’s sustained thematic focus and insight that governs his overall reading of Aristotle, namely, that Aristotle, while attempting to remain faithful to the Parmenidean dictum regarding the oneness and unity of being, nevertheless thinks of being as twofold. Brogan offers a careful and detailed analysis of several of the most important of Heidegger’s treatises on Aristotle, including his assertion that Aristotle’s twofoldness of being has been ignored or misread in the traditional substance-oriented readings of Aristotle. This groundbreaking study contributes immensely to the scholarship of a growing community of ancient Greek scholars engaged in phenomenological approaches to the reading and understanding of Aristotle.“The substantive and rigorous readings offered by Brogan—conveyed in exemplary philosophical prose, lucid and precise—clarify many murky aspects and unveil some unexpected and truly radical positions in the thinking of the early Heidegger’s Aristotle. Indeed, Brogan’s interpretation is careful, rich, and provocative.” — Continental Philosophy Review“This study provides a masterful exegesis of central texts in which Heidegger presents his reading of Aristotle’s thought … Anyone seeking a thoughtful elaboration of Heidegger’s positive reading of Aristotle’s philosophy need look no further.” — Ancient Philosophy“…Brogan provides an especially clear exposition to parts of Heidegger’s Aristotle interpretation. Any serious student of Heidegger should give this book careful scrutiny for the way in which it gives fresh meaning to core issues in Heidegger’s understanding of phusis and technê, the ontological difference, Heidegger’s understanding of the Greeks generally, and especially how Aristotle’s ontology wrestles with the problems inherited from his predecessors.” — Review of Metaphysics“This is, by far, the most extensive study of the ‘dialogue’ between Heidegger and Aristotle, and one that will be consulted as the authoritative study on the topic. It takes giant steps to challenge the usual reading of Aristotle, and does so in a persuasive way, which partisans of the more traditional view will ignore only at their peril.” — Drew A. Hyland, author of Questioning Platonism: Continental Interpretations of PlatoWalter A. Brogan is Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University. He is the coeditor (with James Risser) of American Continental Philosophy: A Reader and the cotranslator (with Peter Warnek) of Martin Heidegger’s Aristotle’s Metaphysics (theta) 1–3: On the Essence and Actuality of Force. Read more