Finite transcendence and its idol

infinite transcendence

pp. 361-391

in: William Horosz, Search without idols, Berlin, Springer, 1987

Abstract

For totalists in general man is "too narrow a category' to be the measure of wholeness. The part cannot dictate to the whole. From this totalistic perspective subjectivism or particularism is the main target of attack. Hence, all the efforts at decentering man in relation to the whole are understandable even if not acceptable, from my point of view. This effort can be seen most clearly in Heidegger's perspective of Being. In the Summer of 1936, Heidegger delivered a series of lectures on, Schelling's Treatise on the Essence of Human Freedom. In these lectures Heidegger was as much interested in conveying his own perspective on this theme as he was in analyzing Schelling's view. Schelling represents the metaphysical point of view which Heidegger tries to overcome. The theme which comes to the fore, even though it is a treatise on freedom, is how freedom can be seen in its relation to the Absolute or Being. From Heidegger's perspective, Schelling's view of freedom is a "historical questioning of Being.'