How Does Heidegger Transform Our Thinking of Reality? Essay Example

One of the most important philosophical works from Heidegger is in the analysis of truth. The theories of truth like ‘correspondence’ can be seen as theoretical attempts of creating a formula for determining the truth/falsehood of a proposition. ‘On the Essence of Truth’ brings out am insightful approach in understanding and interpreting the truth. The text directs us back to Heidegger exposition in ‘being and time’ and ‘the end of philosophy’ and ‘the task of thinking’.

Notably, for someone to take action or react to a situation with a ‘truth’, he/she must first of all be free. However, this does not mean that unconstrained actions all come from the urge to tell a truth. Essence is seen as the pinnacle of inner possibility of what is already known (the object) by the knower (the subject). While regarding the concept of freedom, we do not think truth and its essence. The proposition that the correctness of a statement (essence of truth) is freedom should, therefore, seem strange. The conflict that arises from this proposition is grounded on preconceptions, which is evident from the statement that freedom is a property of man. That is, the ‘essence of freedom’ does not need or allow any further questioning like in philosophy.

Furthermore, in his exposition, Heidegger discusses errancy and forgetfulness. Both points are essential for comprehending his elucidation of the rise and possible fall of technological developments. Since insistent men are directed towards information that is readily available, this leaves little room for investigating and innovating better options. Heidegger describes this by saying that humanity turn away from mystery and instead settles for standard measures. Based on Heidegger work, it is possibly evident that by ignoring the question of being, modern philosophy on truth and its essence has largely been generalized.