Heidegger, German Idealism, and Neo-Kantianism

The influence of early Greek thought on Heidegger's philosophical development is well documented, but Heidegger's relation to modern philosophy, particularly that of German idealists such as Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, and G W F Hegel, has not attracted the attention it deserves. Kant is particularly crucial to understanding Heidegger, since the reformulation of Kantian thought that led to German neo-Kantianism provided an important part of the intellectual climate in which Heidegger formulated his own position. This book examines the little-known but crucial link between Heidegger's theories and his reading of German philosophy - especially idealist and neo-Kantian strains. The analyses and evaluations of Heidegger's writings offered here represent a wide range of views, running from those who agree with Heidegger to those who are deeply critical.