Simon Critchley at Harvard Book Store

About this event

Harvard Book Store welcomes Simon Critchley—Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York—for a discussion of his new book, Heidegger Thinking: ‘Being and Time’ Explained. He will be joined in conversation by Sean Kelly—Dean of Arts and Humanities and Teresa G. and Ferdinand F. Martignetti Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University. About Heidegger Thinking An intelligent but approachable guide to the main concepts of Heidegger’s magnum opus, Being and Time, by one of the leading philosophers of our day. Heidegger Thinking: ‘Being and Time‘ Explained is a comprehensive, long-form deep dive into what is arguably the most significant philosophical work of the last century. Scheduled for release ahead of the 2027 centenary of Heidegger’s masterpiece, this volume by Simon Critchley (edited by Ben Olson) aims to explain the entirety of Heidegger’s project in terms that are understandable and—most importantly—usable for intelligent, curious laypeople. The book is structured into 18 chapters, each presenting a key concept such as Dasein, Being-in-the-world, Anxiety, and Ecstatic Temporality. Critchley avoids the “bazaar of pop philosophy,” opting instead for a slow, intimate journey through Heidegger’s notoriously difficult architecture without sacrificing depth. The work originated as a popular podcast series recorded during the 2020 pandemic, capturing a cultural moment where themes of mortality and isolation were uniquely resonant. However, this text is a complete rewrite, clarified and expanded with a full scholarly apparatus for independent study. Critchley’s central thesis is that “Being is time and time is finite.” By stripping away Heidegger’s baroque jargon, he demonstrates how Heidegger’s insights into our “thrown open clearing of finitude” can change one’s life. This book invites readers to master the “rhythm of existence” and move beyond the “cabinet of consciousness” to embrace a lived, worldly…

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