The question of ontological dependency

Abstract

ABSTRACT In his early work, Heidegger seems to be committed to a perplexing combination of ontological idealism (i.e. being depends on human beings) and ontic realism (i.e. entities do not depend on human beings). I argue that Heidegger, in his later work, is less interested in resolving this perplexity than in provoking us to keep open questions of ontological dependency. Heidegger urges us to take seriously the thought that entities are ‘older than’ or ‘prior to’ being, while also recognizing that being is a condition of the disclosure of entities.