Heidegger, Lao Tzu and the Pre-Socratics: Thinking Being

Abstract

This study concerns with the relationship between Heidegger and Asian thought. Mainly, it aims to investigate through Heidegger’s interest in East Asian ways of thinking, two notions, one from West and one from East, namely Gelassenheit and Wuwei. In this investigation, a philosophical method and field -named fusion philosophy- is also problematized regarding how beneficial and advanced it is, compared to the comparative philosophy when it comes to the studies about differences and similarities between Western and Asian philosophies. At first, Heidegger’s understanding of Dasein is examined in order to gain insight on his interest towards ways of thinking which belong to East Asia, especially in his later era, namely Kehre. Even though he rarely mentions his idea of Dasein in his later works where he shows a clear interest into the Asian ways of thinking, still this interest in later works can be seen as endeavor to open up new ways to think about the Being and Dasein. Secondly, by setting off from Heidegger’s interest with examining the meaning of being, the western notion of Gelassenheit is examined throughout its historical progress, especially with its usage in Meister Eckhart. In third part, the famous notion of wuwei which has both Confucian, Daoist and Buddhist connotations and scope, is examined through its own historical context and progress. With this examination, relationship of the mentality which embraces the wuwei with the nature and existence is clarified. Related to this clarification, the approach of the understanding which interiorizes the wuwei to the notions like human, becoming and Being is problematized through a hermeneutical analysis. In last part, the resemblances and differences between Western Gelasssenheit and Asian wuwei are taken into consideration with a comparison between them.