The Secular Frontier

I noted in my previous article on Hölderlin’s poem “Remembrance” that the modern university is metaphysical in Plato’s sense.  We might see two political science students debate the abortion issue using two equally illustrative but mutually exclusive examples or analogies to support their positions (e.g., arguing pro-life vs pro-choice).  It is this metaphysical reading of Hölderlin’s poem Heidegger is going to be pushing back against. Metaphysics in Plato’s sense means dividing Being into two realms for the purpose of removing ambiguity and hence facilitate learning.  For example, in literary theory you can do a psychoanalytic reading of a poem like The Tyger by William Blake.  The psychoanalytic interpretive paradigm is the “really real,” and the actual interpretation aims at being the paradigm incarnate, in the same way we say the mansion is “houseness” incarnate/personified. Heidegger argues the metaphysical is a realm of thinking that dumbs everything down for the ... Read Article

In the Gospels, Jesus is sometimes called "Rabbi": 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.(Mark 10:50-52, NIV) 20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.(Mark 11:20-22, NRSV Updated Edition) 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. (Mark 14:44-46, NRSV Updated Edition) 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, ... Read Article

The Island https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apD1IuE5Lwo The Cape Breton Liberation Army (CBLA) is a fictional entity born out of a satirical comic series called Old Trout Funnies, created by artist Paul "Moose" MacKinnon in the 1970s. This homegrown project emerged during a time when Cape Breton Island was experiencing a cultural renaissance, shaking off its historical marginalization due to geography and economics. The CBLA, as depicted in the comics, is a tongue-in-cheek revolutionary force, humorously battling against mainland Nova Scotia’s influence—symbolized by the Canso Causeway, which connects the island to the rest of the province—and poking fun at local politics, labor unions, environmental issues, and societal stereotypes. The satire revolves around exaggerated, farcical exploits that play with the caricature of Cape Bretoners as laid-back, tavern-loving rogues. Yet beneath the humor lies a sharp commentary on the island’s identity. The CBLA’s mock mission to "liberate" Cape Br ... Read Article

This is a transcript of a conversation between a teacher (me, John) and Grok 3 AI John: Hi Grok 3. Want to do some creative and critical thinking? Grok 3: Hey there! Absolutely, I’m up for some creative and critical thinking. What’s on your mind—want to brainstorm, tackle a problem, or maybe explore some wild ideas? Throw me a starting point and let’s see where we can take it! John: Okay, let’s do some Socratic questioning (leading questions). This is a fundamental strategy in genuine learning and teaching. I will ask you a series of 4 questions. Each question will proceed more deeply into seeing your understanding of an issue than the previous questions. I'd like you to give a short answer after every question, but let me know if you would like to revise an earlier answer after considering a later question. Got it? Great! Here is the first question: 1. Do you think time travel is more likely possible or not possible? Grok 3: Got it! I’m ready to dive in. For your first question: I ... Read Article

"The Roman word res designates that which concerns somebody, ... that which is pertinent, which has a bearing ... In Enghsh 'thing' has still preserved the full semantic power of the Roman word: 'He knows his things,' he understands the matters that have a bearing on him ... The Roman word res denotes what pertains to man, concerns him and his interests in any way or manner. That which concerns man is what is real in res ... Meister Eckhart says, adopting an expression of Dionysius the Areopagite: love is of such a nature that it changes man into the things he loves (Heidegger PLT, T, 175-6)." I’m concluding this study of Martin Heidegger’s first lecture course on Hölderlin’s poetry, devoted to an interpretation of the hymns “Germania” and “The Rhine.” Delivered in Freiburg in the winter semester of 1934–35, this course marks Heidegger’s first sustained engagement with Hölderlin’s poetizing, and is particularly important for understanding the works of Heidegger that follow in the m ... Read Article

Ever-beautiful youth, before it withers (Holderlin, The Death of Empedocles) One point on the poem is it is not to be read as imagery combine with indication in the poem about how to interpret the imagery. [I]t presents difficulties and in the end is thoroughly mistaken if we seek to introduce a distinction between strophes that are descriptive and those that are explanatory. For even the strophes that forgo supplying any image relating to the river (the second part of strophe III and strophes VII, VIII, and IX) are not some kind of philosophical elaboration of what has been told by way of images in the preceding strophes. Rather, what we have in each case is an ongoing telling or, better, a telling that goes back and forth, and that in itself presents the fact that what is to be told is, in its essence, manifold. (Heidegger, Martin. Hölderlin's Hymns: "Germania" and "The Rhine" (Studies in Continental Thought) (p. 261). Indiana University Press. Kindle Edition.) The new “truth” being ... Read Article

“[T]he closed essence of the universe contains no force which could withstand the courage of cognition; it must open up before it, and afford it the spectacle and enjoyment of its riches and its depths. (Hegel 1818).”  Heidegger comments: “[The] fundamental experience of Hegelian metaphysics – namely that the universe cannot withstand the courage of cognition and must open itself to the will for unconditioned certain knowledge (i.e., the will for absolute certainty) – is entirely and utterly non-Greek … The obscurity attended to in the way of thinking is essentially divorced from every ‘mysticism’ and mere sinking into the darkness of obscurity for its own sake (H, 26).” (1) Greek: Gods/thinkers (athanatizein - deathlessness) – the individual- apart from man (2) German: Gods fled, thinkers demi-gods, bring the word to man and fatherland. Hölderlin comments: Habit is such a powerful goddess that no one, presumably, can rebel against her without being punished. The ... Read Article

I would like here to conclude my thoughts on Hölderlin’s poem Germania. It is not the case, as is popularly thought, that Parmenides taught the One while Heraclitus taught the many, since Heraclitus too taught the One.  So, for example, we gave the example previously that Life is understood in the context of death, specifically that we live “as though” the next moment won’t be denied in death (though it could be), and so we live on a spectrum from (i) assertive carpe diem to (ii) the restraint of memento mori: The wisdom of Heraclitus was condensed in an almost formulaic manner into the words of Fragment 50: ἓν πάντα εἶναι—One is all. But “One” does not mean uniformity, empty sameness, and “all” does not mean the countless multitude of arbitrary things: rather, ἕν, “One” = harmony, is all—that which arises in each case essentially constitutes beings as a whole as diverse and in conflict with one another.  (Heidegger, Martin. Hölderlin's Hymns: "Germania ... Read Article

THREE OBJECTIONS TO THE SWOON THEORY FROM WILLIAM CRAIG In his book The Son Rises (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1981; hereafter: TSR), the Christian apologist William Craig raises three objections against the Swoon Theory: Craig’s Objection #1: Jesus’ Physical InjuriesCraig’s Objection #2: The Deceptive Jesus ObjectionCraig’s Objection #3: The Sickly Jesus Objection Craig's Objection #3 is the same objection as Objection #5 by the Christian apologists Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics, which I have previously shown was a FAILURE: https://thinkingcriticallyabout.podbean.com/e/chapter-3-objections-to-the-swoon-theory-based-on-john Craig's Objection #1 (Jesus' Physical Injuries) is probably the most important objection that has been raised by Christian apologists against the Swoon Theory, but I have recently shown that this objection also FAILS: https://thinkingcriticallyabout.podbean.com/e/chapter-6-three-objections-to-the-swoon-theory-by-william- ... Read Article

Husserl noted we never leave the present.  The past was a past present and the future will be a future present.  This moves forward as clock time.  On the other hand, as I observed in my master’s thesis on Heidegger and the Greeks (2002, pg 10), there is another experience of time moving in the opposite direction of, say, Christmas is coming / is here / has gone into the past.  For Hölderlin, there is an abandonment of the gods.  If we are talking about the abandonment of the gods and waiting on new gods, what are “gods” for Hölderlin?  Heidegger comments “For Hölderlin the gods are ‘nothing other than time’ (92).”  There are two kinds of time: Which time is long? It is “the time” of the everyday and the time on the peaks, yet each in a different way. Everyday time is “long” [lang] in boredom [Langeweile], where time holds us in limbo and in so doing leaves us empty, where we hurriedly and indiscriminately reach for whatever makes the long time pass or makes for diversio ... Read Article

I have completed a DRAFT (10 chapters) of my upcoming book:  Thinking Critically about the Resurrection of JesusVolume 1: The Resuscitation of the Swoon Theory I am making DRAFT versions of the first five chapters of my book available to you. The primary focus of this book is on the case for the resurrection of Jesus made by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics (HCA). Their case can be summarized in just three claims: IF Kreeft and Tacelli refuted the four alternative (skeptical) theories, THEN Kreeft and Tacelli have proved that the Christian Theory of the resurrection of Jesus is true. Kreeft and Tacelli refuted (in Chapter 8 of HCA) the four alternative (skeptical) theories. THEREFORE: Kreeft and Tacelli have proved that the Christian Theory of the resurrection of Jesus is true. They raise objections to each of four skeptical theories.  In my book, I focus on their nine objections against the Swo ... Read Article

*NOTE:  If I update a post I put a note in the comment section, so just hit refresh! Last series I looked at Heidegger’s interpretation of Holderlin’s poem Germania in terms of re-thinking Greek Philosophy.  Specifically, we looked at Heidegger’s Preparatory Reflections: Poetry and Language.  In this new series I’m going to further explore Hölderlin’s "Germania" and also his poem “The Rhine” to look at the question of “The People.”  What does it mean to be a “People.”  Certainly, the Germans are a proud and historic people, though the question of German pride came to a forefront in the previous century with the horror of Nazism.  In previous times, Germans as a people were synonymous with high art and culture.  But what is a people?  We noted previously humans are different from animals like dogs because of the richness of our contexts.  We live according to the human condition of Death, for instance   A dog no more lives out of an understanding of the “dog ... Read Article

(Hölderlin by Franz Carl Hiemer, 1792) Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin (20 March 1770 – 7 June 1843) was a German poet and philosopher. Described by Norbert von Hellingrath as "the most German of Germans", Hölderlin was a key figure of German Romanticism. Particularly due to his early association with and philosophical influence on Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, he was also an important thinker in the development of German Idealism. This is Heidegger's interpretation of Hölderlin. (1) Philosophical Context Posts: (Preliminary thoughts Part 1) How Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin Helped Us Rethink Ancient Thought (Preliminary thoughts Part 2) How Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin Helped Us Rethink Ancient Thought (Preliminary thoughts Part 3/3) How Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin Helped Us Rethink Ancient Thought (2) Exposition of the Poems Germania, The Rhine, and The Ister (Main Exposition Part 1) How Johann Christian ... Read Article

“The name of the bow is life [βίος], its work, however, death” [the most extreme opposites of beyng together in one]. Heraclitus, fragment 48 Hegel, on page 26 of the Preface to the Phenomenology of Spirit, his first major work, and at the same time his greatest work, which appeared in 1807, writes the following: “Death, if that is what we wish to call that non-actuality, is what is most terrifying, and to hold fast to what is dead requires the greatest strength. Beauty, lacking strength, hates the understanding for asking of her something she is unable to do. But the life of Spirit is not the life that shrinks from death and preserves itself untouched by devastation, but rather the life that endures death and maintains itself within it. Spirit wins its truth only when, within absolute dismemberment, it finds itself. It is this power, not as something positive that closes its eyes to the negative, as when we say of something that it is nothing or is false, and then, having done with it, t ... Read Article

Much have humans experienced. Named many of the heavenly, Since we are a dialogue And can hear from one another. (Holderlin) We noted last time that we operate in and out of contexts, e.g., the spirit of the age or the human condition, noting that the dog, for all its cleverness, knows nothing of a doggy zeitgeist.  The example we gave last time is death, and so we live “as though” we won’t be denied the next moment in death, though this is a dark possibility.  Similarly, we encounter the world "as though" my friend experiences the world as I do, though this is only known through analogy. The question is how are we a dialogue?  From all that has been cited thus far, it must become clear that language is not something that the human being has among other faculties and tools. Rather, language is that which has the human being, that which configures and determines his Dasein as such in this way or that, and from the ground up… Poetizing is itself only that distinctive occurrence w ... Read Article