Heidegger and human occupation: An existential perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT Human occupation has long been a source of philosophical reflection. This article aims to revisit ideas of German philosopher Martin Heidegger, from the existential tradition, who explored questions around meaning of life and occupations as being central and not a separate entity. Heidegger’s core concept of Dasein, ‘inhabiting the world’, is discussed, having particular links to the richness of networks of meaning through accomplishment of occupations and all its intricacies. It also invites reflection when people face occupational disruptions that challenge living in an automatic way or built by external social “chatter” and diversions. Heidegger’s ideas can inspire occupational scientists to view meaningful occupations as a way of reflecting on one’s world or to embrace an occupational disruption as a journey to making consciously explicit our ‘Being-in-the-world’. Finally, it is a philosophical orientation that supports guiding persons in a transformative process of reconfiguring their occupational self embedded in their contexts.