What do you think?
Graduate School with Heidegger
Greg Johnson's Graduate School with Heidegger is unique in the vast literature on Heidegger. Written by a self-proclaimed "failed academic" for intelligent laymen, these essays and lectures serve as a non-systematic, non-technical introduction to the twentieth century's most influential and difficult philosopher.
Johnson explains essential concepts like phenomenology, metaphysics, and nihilism. He defines technical terms like Being, the clearing, and the event. He discusses Heidegger's relationships to Nietzsche, Husserl, and Evola. He explores the roots of Heidegger's nationalist and ecological politics. He responds to the Heidegger interpretations of Thomas Sheehan, Richard Polt, Ronald Beiner, Alexander Dugin, John Caputo, and Richard Rorty. Finally, he recommends Heidegger's many lecture courses as a graduate-level education in philosophy, free of the staggering cost and stifling conformity of contemporary academia.
Johnson explains essential concepts like phenomenology, metaphysics, and nihilism. He defines technical terms like Being, the clearing, and the event. He discusses Heidegger's relationships to Nietzsche, Husserl, and Evola. He explores the roots of Heidegger's nationalist and ecological politics. He responds to the Heidegger interpretations of Thomas Sheehan, Richard Polt, Ronald Beiner, Alexander Dugin, John Caputo, and Richard Rorty. Finally, he recommends Heidegger's many lecture courses as a graduate-level education in philosophy, free of the staggering cost and stifling conformity of contemporary academia.
- GenresPhilosophy
222 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2020
About the author
Greg Johnson
27 books45 followersGreg Johnson is an author of several books on the topics of European identity, white nationalism, politics, and race. He is also the editor in chief of Counter Currents.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
January 19, 2025
Greg Johnson’s Graduate School with Heidegger offers a critical reflection on the philosophical and existential challenges of engaging with Martin Heidegger’s thought within the academic setting. The book provides both an intellectual and personal account of grappling with Heidegger’s complex philosophy, particularly in the context of graduate education, where intellectual rigor and ideological constraints often collide.
Johnson’s central argument revolves around the idea that Heidegger’s philosophy, with its emphasis on Being, authenticity, and the questioning of metaphysical presuppositions, poses a challenge to contemporary academia. He explores how Heidegger’s work demands a radical reevaluation of traditional philosophical paradigms and institutional norms, making it both an invaluable and a controversial subject of study. The book is structured as a combination of memoir, philosophical commentary, and critique of modern academia, blending personal experience with rigorous engagement with Heideggerian concepts.
One of the book’s strengths is its lucid exposition of Heidegger’s major ideas, making them accessible to readers who may not be specialists in Continental philosophy. Johnson effectively distills complex themes such as Dasein, historicity, and the ontological difference, showing their relevance not only within the academic sphere but also in broader cultural and intellectual contexts. Additionally, his critique of the ideological biases in contemporary higher education raises important questions about academic freedom and intellectual diversity.
However, the book is not without its limitations. Some readers may find Johnson’s polemical stance against mainstream academia overly dismissive, as he tends to emphasize ideological constraints while underplaying the genuine contributions of contemporary philosophical scholarship. Furthermore, while his engagement with Heidegger is thorough, the book sometimes lacks engagement with counterarguments or alternative interpretations of Heidegger’s legacy, particularly regarding his political entanglements.
Despite these critiques, Graduate School with Heidegger is a thought-provoking work that will appeal to students of philosophy, scholars interested in Heidegger, and those critical of contemporary academic institutions. Johnson’s book serves as both an introduction to Heidegger’s philosophy and a critique of the challenges faced by those who seek to study it in depth.
Johnson’s Graduate School with Heidegger is an engaging and provocative reflection on Heidegger’s thought and its place in modern academia. While some of its criticisms may be contentious, the book succeeds in highlighting the enduring significance of Heideggerian philosophy and the intellectual struggles that accompany its study. It is a recommended read for those interested in the intersection of philosophy, education, and intellectual independence.
GPT
Johnson’s central argument revolves around the idea that Heidegger’s philosophy, with its emphasis on Being, authenticity, and the questioning of metaphysical presuppositions, poses a challenge to contemporary academia. He explores how Heidegger’s work demands a radical reevaluation of traditional philosophical paradigms and institutional norms, making it both an invaluable and a controversial subject of study. The book is structured as a combination of memoir, philosophical commentary, and critique of modern academia, blending personal experience with rigorous engagement with Heideggerian concepts.
One of the book’s strengths is its lucid exposition of Heidegger’s major ideas, making them accessible to readers who may not be specialists in Continental philosophy. Johnson effectively distills complex themes such as Dasein, historicity, and the ontological difference, showing their relevance not only within the academic sphere but also in broader cultural and intellectual contexts. Additionally, his critique of the ideological biases in contemporary higher education raises important questions about academic freedom and intellectual diversity.
However, the book is not without its limitations. Some readers may find Johnson’s polemical stance against mainstream academia overly dismissive, as he tends to emphasize ideological constraints while underplaying the genuine contributions of contemporary philosophical scholarship. Furthermore, while his engagement with Heidegger is thorough, the book sometimes lacks engagement with counterarguments or alternative interpretations of Heidegger’s legacy, particularly regarding his political entanglements.
Despite these critiques, Graduate School with Heidegger is a thought-provoking work that will appeal to students of philosophy, scholars interested in Heidegger, and those critical of contemporary academic institutions. Johnson’s book serves as both an introduction to Heidegger’s philosophy and a critique of the challenges faced by those who seek to study it in depth.
Johnson’s Graduate School with Heidegger is an engaging and provocative reflection on Heidegger’s thought and its place in modern academia. While some of its criticisms may be contentious, the book succeeds in highlighting the enduring significance of Heideggerian philosophy and the intellectual struggles that accompany its study. It is a recommended read for those interested in the intersection of philosophy, education, and intellectual independence.
GPT
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review