The Essence of Reasons
A new 2024 translation of Martin Heidegger's major work "The Essence of Reason" (Vom Wesen des Grundes), originally published in 1929. This edition contains a new afterword by the Translator, a timeline of Heidegger's life and works, a philosophic index of core Heideggerian concepts and a guide for Existentialist terminology across 19th and 20th century Existentialists. The treatise "Vom Wesen des Grundes" was written in 1928 simultaneously with the lecture "Was ist Metaphysik?". This work examines Aristotle's dissection of the multiple meanings of άρχή (archē), highlighting the variations of what is commonly called "reason," including the reason of what-being, of that-being, and of being true. The text intricately weaves together Aristotle's exploration of αϊτιον (cause), integrating a fourfold division into ύποκείμενον xo xi ήν εΐναι άρχή της μεταβολης and οϋ ενεκα that historically guided metaphysical and logical discourse. The intertwining of these philosophical constructs explores the nature of reason, casts doubt on the efficacy of identifying the "common" elements of "reasons," and asks whether the nature of reason can truly be discovered through an analysis of these commonalities. In addition, the paper places significant emphasis on transcendence, identifying it as the critical domain for discussing the essence of reason. It posits that the question of the essence of reason is essentially a question of the truth of being itself. This perspective leads to an examination of transcendence as a domain of inquiry into the nature of reason. The discussion of the nature of reason and its relation to transcendence is approached through a careful examination of philosophical history, including references to Leibniz, Kant, and Schelling. Heidegger advocates for a new philosophy that resurrects the notion of transcendence. This exploration seeks to redefine the problem of reason in a way that transcends historical interpretations and delves into the more fundamental aspects of philosophical inquiry beyond mere rationalism.