The Emergency of Being: On Heidegger's "Contributions to Philosophy"
"In this lively, important book, Polt struggles with Heidegger's mid-1930s effort to invent the peculiar terms and expressions of his later thinking, beginning with his keyword Ereignis, event, appropriation, enowing, but really Heidegger's word for 'the impossibility of starting at the beginning." . . . . Highly recommended."—Choice"Readers will be grateful for the clarity of Richard Polt's prose, for his providing a historical context for the Contributions, and for his ability to communicate with those who are not expert in Heidegger's work. Reformulating Heidegger's thought is an undertaking filled with difficulty and demands for exceptional originality; Polt meets the challenge."—Charles E. Scott, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Director of The Vanderbilt University Center for Ethics"Richard Polt's book is unique: it provides an eminently accessible introduction to, and commentary on, the major themes of Heidegger's text, and does so in a philosophically sophisticated and critical way. This combination of accessibility and erudition is a most impressive accomplishment. The Emergency of Being will appeal both to students who may be approaching Heidegger's work for the first time and Heidegger specialists seeking a critical 'take' on what is even for them a difficult and largely inaccessible text. Polt's book is an indispensable introduction and companion guide to the Contributions."—William McNeill, DePaul University