Speaking of Silence in Heidegger

Wanda Torres Gregory examines Heidegger's notion of silence, arguing that it is a guiding principle in his sparse and reticent words. She explores his reflections on silence from Being and Time to On the Way to Language, distinguishing between human, primordial, and primeval forms and linguistic, pre-linguistic, and proto-linguistic levels. She also considers his ties to National Socialism and proposes alternatives to his claims about the sound beyond sounds, the metaphysics of mystical silence, the uniquely linguistic essence of mortals, and the loud idle talk in the age of modern technology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 164 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

In her groundbreaking work, "Speaking of Silence in Heidegger," Wanda Torres Gregory delves into the profound and enigmatic thoughts of Martin Heidegger on silence. Through a meticulous and insightful analysis, she argues that silence about silence serves as a guiding principle in Heidegger's sparse and often reticent words. With a keen eye for the trajectory of Heidegger's reflections, from "Being and Time" to "On the Way to Language," Torres Gregory uncovers the intricate development of his ideas about silence. She reveals how he progressively aligns his notions of silence with his evolving ideas of truth, as the unconcealedness of being/beyng and language as the disclosive sonorous saying.

To further elucidate the complexities of silence, Torres Gregory distinguishes between different forms of silence, including human, primordial, and primeval, and explores the various levels at which silence can occur in relation to sonorous speech. While the book primarily focuses on these inner conceptual dynamics, the author remains mindful of Heidegger's connections to National Socialism and elucidates how his theoretical assumptions can potentially facilitate oppressive silencing.

In the concluding chapters, Torres Gregory offers critical reflections on Heidegger's later thinking of silence and presents alternative perspectives to his claims regarding the sound beyond sounds, the metaphysics of mystical silence, the uniquely linguistic essence of mortals, and the prevalence of loud idle talk in the age of modern technology. Through her profound exploration, Gregory sheds light on the multifaceted nature of silence and its profound implications for our understanding of existence, language, and the ethical dimensions of silence.

Weight: 463g
Dimension: 226 x 163 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793640031