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3.BeyngHistoricalThinkingin
HeideggersContributionstoPhilosophy
AlejandroVallega
IntheintroductorysectionofContributionstoPhilosophy(FromEnowning),Heideggersaysthatthistitledoesnotdefinenordoesitattempttospeak
aboutsomething.ThethinkingofContributions,hestates,mayonlyoccurasanattempt(einVersuch)tothinkthequestionofthetruthofbeyngout
ofitsoriginarygroundinatimeoftransition(bergang).Heideggersays,intheageofthecrossingfrommetaphysicsintobeinghistoricalthinking,one
canventureonlyanattempttothinkaccordingtoamoreoriginarybasicstancewithinthequestionofthetruthofbeyng.1Thisthinkinginthetransition
Heideggercallsabeynghistoricalthinking(seynsgeschichtlichesDenken).InthisessayItrytounderstandthemotionofthoughtbehindthisattempt,i.e.,
howbeynghistoricalthinkingmaybeunderstoodnotjustasathinkingintransitionfromoneepochtoanotherbutinitselfastransitional
(bergnglich),asathinkingofpassage.
Thisessayisdividedintofourparts.InthefirstIdirectmyattentiontothequestionofthematter(dieSache)giventobethoughtattheendofmetaphysics,
andhowthistaskistakenupinContributions.2Inthesecond,inordertocomeclosertothetermbeynghistoricalthinkinginContributions,Ipointout
Heideggersdistinctionbetweenhistoriography(Historie),andhistoryorhistoricaloccurrence(Geschichte).3Thisdifferentiationisthendeveloped
initsmoreessentialaspectinthethirdpart,whereIdiscussitstemporalfoundationbydiscussingitspassingandinceptualcharacter.Inconsideringthe
temporalcharacterofthethinkingofbeynginContributions,itbecomesclearthattheessentialswayingofbeyng(WesungdesSeyns)4occursasa
passage(acomingtobeinpassingaway),andaleap(Sprung):aleapthatinitsoccurrencenotonlyenactstheunsettlingofanyconceptionofbeyngin
termsofthelogicofpresencesandeverlasting,unchangeableessencesororigins,butoccursitselfasitsownunsettlingovercomingpassage.Inthefinal
partIindicatethatContributions,withitsfugalstructure,enacts(vollzieht)thisleapofthepassageofbeyng.
AlmostattheClosure
Whatiftherewerenothingbehindtheappearing5thatwecallworld?Howwouldonethinkthisnothingness?Certainlynotintermsofthemetaphysical
structuresthatwouldalwayssuggestsomethingelseeternalandunchangingunderneathorabovethesurfaceoftheappearing.Butthiswouldalsomean
thatthisnothingwouldnotbewhatis

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Page49
notpresence,whatissetagainstpresenceathand,sincethispresencewouldnolongerbedictatedbythetraditionalconfigurationsthatcouldgive
meaning,oressence,totheappearingasthewhatnessofwhatappears.Itwouldthenbeaquestionofacertainnothingnessneitherempty,as
itmightbeunderstoodincontrasttothingspresentathand,norsenseless,asunderstoodincontrasttothelogicorreasonofmetaphysicsand
transcendentalphilosophies.Inotherwords,andotherwordswouldbeneededpreciselyinthelightofthequestionofthisnothingness,thequestionwould
beoneofthinkingawayofbeingutterlyother:othertoobjectivepresenceandfact,othertotheconceptualconfigurationsofpresence,andothertothe
sufficientreasonthatsustainsthelogicofpresence.
WhenwelookatthebeginningofContributionswecanseethatHeideggersthinkingbeginsattheclosureofmetaphysics,i.e.,atthelimitofNietzsches
thoughtofnihilism.InthefirstpagesofContributionsHeideggerreferstothetaskannouncedbythetitleofthebookasanattempt(Versuch)tothink
thequestionofthetruthofbeyngoutofitsoriginarygrounding.6Thisattemptoccursinthetimeofthetransition(Zeitalterdesbergangs)from
metaphysicstobeynghistoricalthinking.7ThethinkingofContributionsoccursassuchinacertaintransition(bergang).
InhislectureonNietzschesthinkingofnihilism,wintersemester1937/38,thetimeofthecompositionofContributions,Heideggerdirectlybroachesthe
subjectofthetransitionfrommetaphysicstothebeynghistoricalthinkingofContributions.InthislectureHeideggerwrites,Thisendofthefirst
beginning(ersterAnfang)ofWesternphilosophyisNietzschefromhereandonlyfromheremusthisworkbedeveloped,ifitistobewhateachendmust
beatransition(bergang).8
NietzschesNihilism,theverydiscoverythatGodisdead,thatbehindtheappearingthereisnothing,isnotonlytheendofmetaphysics,butthisend
remainstobethoughtinitsveryoccurrence(Ereignis)asthetransitionfrommetaphysics,thefirstbeginning,tobeynghistoricalthinking.
TheseemingoverlappingofNietzschesnihilismandHeideggersownthinkingdoesnotmarkadirectcontinuitybetweenthetwo.Heideggersthoughtonly
touchesonNietzscheatthelimitofNietzschesthinkingofnihilism.Later,inEuropeanNihilism,aseriesoflectureswrittenin1940aspartof
HeideggersongoingmeditationonNietzsche,Heideggerwrites,
Theendofmetaphysicsdisclosesitselfasthecollapseofthereignofthetranscendentandtheidealthatsprangfromit.Buttheendof
metaphysicsdoesnotmeanthecessationofhistory(Geschichte).Itisthebeginning(Beginn)ofaseriousstrugglewiththat
occurrence(Ereignis):Godisdead9

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Theendofmetaphysicsdoesnotmeananend,acessationoftheoccurrence,Ereignis,orhistory,Geschichte,ofbeing.Fromnihilismwemightlearnthat
metaphysicsisnottoberepeatedbut,atthesametime,theendofmetaphysicscannotbeabandonedasifmeaningless.Totheendofmetaphysics,tothe
deathofGod,belongsahistoricaloccurrencethatdoesnotstop,norend,andthatremainstobethoughtasitgivesitselftobethought.Thinkingwould
nowremain,staywith,whatisgiventobethoughtintheoccurrenceoftheendofmetaphysics:intheveryoccurrenceofthedeathofGod,whatisgivento
bethoughtisthisdeathinitself,thisnothingness.AsHeideggerconcludes,Nietzschesthoughtmarksthebeginningofaseriousstrugglewiththat
occurrence[Ereignis]:thedeathofGod.ItisthisstruggletothinkinthedeathorabsenceofGodandmetaphysicalmeaningsthatisindicatedinthe
supplementarytitletoContributions,whereHeideggerhasalreadysituatedthethinkingofthebookasoccurringoutofandinthisstruggle,asathinking
vomEreignis.10
ButNietzschesthoughtitselfonlyintimateswhatisgiventobethought.InTheWilltoPowerasArt,HeideggerexpresslystatesthatNietzschetakesthe
leadingquestion(Leitfrage)ofphilosophy,thequestionofthebeingofbeings,asthequestion,andneglectstoasktheground
question(Grundfrage),thequestionofbeingassuch(WasistdasSeinselbst?).11AccordingtoHeidegger,withthedoctrineofthewilltopower
Nietzschesthoughtwithdrawsfromhisowninsightconcerningnihilismandultimatelyremainsmetaphysical,thusfailingtoasktheessentialquestionof
thetruthofbeingassuch.
BringingNietzschesrealizationthatthereisnothingbehindtheappearingoftheappearancestothegroundquestionofphilosophy(Grundfrage)wouldnot
beamatterofseekinganotherkindofaccounttobegivenaboutbeings.Rather,theveryquestionaskedwouldchange.12Inbringingnothingassuchinto
question,onewouldhavetothinkthisappearinginitsoccurrence,assuch:thequestionwouldthenbethatoftheappearinginitsappearingassuch.
BeynghistoricalthinkingasthethinkingofthetransitionwouldthinktheveryoccurrenceofthedeathofGoditwouldthinkwhatgivesitselftobethought
inthispassageitwouldnotonlythinkinthelightoftheveryawarenessthatbehindtheappearancesthereisnothingbutitwouldthinkinthispassage,
andoutofthisnothingness.
HighinthelowerAlpsliesasmallcemetery.Thereayoungmanisbeingburied,onewhowassoconsumedbylifeastopassawayatanearlyage.The
funeralissimpleafewfriends,butmostlystrangerstotheyoungman,likemyself.Afterafewwordshavebeenspokenbyapriestandothershave
recalledtheyoungmanattherequestofhismother,theurnfilledwithhisashesisbroughttoitsrestingplace.As

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thecemeteryworkertriestosettheurninitsplaceinamarblewall,silencefallsuponallthosepresent.Someonebeginsaprayerdestinedtoreturnto
silence.Silence.
Silence,andthen,aftersometime,voicesbegintoecho.Notunifiedvoicesinprayer,orrecollectionsofthedead,butconversationsthatspringfromutter
silence,echoesoutofsilenceconversationsasdiverseasthefoliageandflowersthatalmostoverrunthecemeteryandthemarblewall.Conversationsthat
arefleetingandyetlightascloudsandsky.Conversationsamongststrangers,likemyselfwheredotheseelementalwordscomefrom?Howisitthatout
ofsilencemightcomesuchdisclosureoflivingconfigurations?
InDieGeschichtedesSeyns[Thehistoryofbeyng],13aworkthatbelongstoContributionsaswellasexpandsit,onethatwascomposedimmediatelyafter
itin1938/39,Heideggermakesthefollowingbriefremarkaboutbeynghistoricalthinking:
Thefirstleap(Sprung)ofthinkingthinks:
Beyngisnothing(DasSeynistdasNichts).
Nothingnothings(DasNichtsnichtet).14
IntheselinesweheartheradicaldifferencebetweenHeideggersthoughtandNietzsches,atleastasunderstoodbyHeidegger.15ForHeidegger,
Nietzschesquestionofbeingisstillthequestionofthebeingnessofbeings,beingasthepresenceofbeingsoutoftheirneedtobe,aneedgathered
conceptuallybyNietzscheunderthefiverubricsthatformonemetaphysicalinterpretationofbeing.16ForHeideggerthequestionofbeyngisoutsidethe
logicandnecessityofpresence:beyngisnotanything.TheabruptleapfromNietzschetoHeideggerismarkedbytheyofbeyng(Seyn).17
Heideggersreturntothearchaicspellingofbeing(Sein)marksthisleap.Thisleapopensthequestionofbeynganew:beyngisnottobethoughtnowin
termsofpresencebutasnothing.Heideggersays,DasNichtsnichtet.Wecangetaglimpseofthequestionthathasopenedevenaswetranslatethisbrief
passageintoEnglish:nothingnothings.Itisnotnothingbutacertainoccurrence(Ereignis)thatisgiventobethought.Wemightrepeatthelastword
ofthelastphrase,nothings,inanotherwaythatplacesitatthecenterofContributions:theexpressionnothingsrecallsustoourneedtothinkbeyngs
essentialswaying(dieWesungdesSeynsselbst.)
InthisfirstsectionIhavesituatedthethinkinginContributionsattheclosure(nottheend)ofthehistoryofmetaphysics.Thisisasignificantmovebecause
itletsusseecertainfundamentalaspectsofbeynghistoricalthinking.Fromwhatwehavediscusseditisclearthatbeynghistoricalthinkingdoesnotoccur
asthecontinuationoroutcomeof

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historiographicaldevelopments.Rather,ittakesplaceasareturningofthedeathofGodandtheclosureofthemetaphysicalinterpretationoftheworldas
constitutedbyadualismofchangingbeingsandunchangingbeing.Thisindicatesasecondcharacteristic.Beynghistoricalthinkinghasabeginninginthe
interruptionofthemetaphysicalinterpretationoflivingconfiguratingevents,inthegapbetweenNietzschesWilltoPowerandHeideggersthinking
saying,andintheleapwearecalledtomakeifwearetothinkthematterthatisgiventobethoughtbynihilismandyetremainswithoutarticulationin
Nietzsche.
Furthermore,thisproblematizationofnihilismbringswithittwoquestionsthatarealreadyindicatedbytheveryexpressionseynsgeschichtlich.Ifin
ContributionsHeideggerthinksoutoftheclosureofmetaphysics,histhinkingmustoccurotherwisethanintermsoftheontologicaldifferencebetween
beingsandbeing.Thisisthecaseforthemetaphysicalinterpretationofthisrelation,thedifferencebetweenchangingandunchangingessences,aswellas
fortranscendentalarticulationsofbeyng,includingHeideggersowninBeingandTime.Therehespeaksofanontologicaldifferencebetweenentitiesat
handandbeing.Indeed,theverytermseynsgeschichtlichindicatesasinglemotionofthought,asinglemattertobethoughtinthismotion,asingletemporal
occurrencebeyondthisontologicaldualism.
Thisalsomeansthatthedenselivingoccurrencesthathavebeeninterpretedastheobjectivefactsofhistoriographyorastheexpressionofalogicalmotion
underlyingit,arenowtoberethoughtandunderstoodforthemselves,intheirownoccurrence,i.e.,beyondtheirinterpretationaseitherobjectiveorlogical.
Thequestionis,howarewetograspthetermbeynghistoricalthinking?
HistoricalBeyng,notHistoriography
AtthebeginningofContributions,Heideggerspeaksoftheworkinthebookasanattemptatabeynghistoricalthinking(seynsgeschichtliches
Denken).18ThetermistranslatedbyEmad/Malyasbeinghistoricalthinking.IprefertotranslateitintoEnglishasbeynghistoricalthinking.19The
wordthatistranslatedashistoricalinbothcasesisnotitsGermancognatehistorisches,butgeschichtliches.Heideggerschoiceissignificant.
Geschichtlichesrefersnottothemeasurableandfactualtimeofobjectivepresenceanditshistoriography(Historie).20Rather,thewordattemptstosound
outtheveryoccurrence(Ereignis)ofappearingassuch,theessentialswayingofbeyngassuch(dieWesungdesSeynsselbst).
ThewordsgeschichtlichandGeschichtefindtheirverbalformingeschehen,whichmeanstooccur.Thethreetermsarerootedinthewordgiskiht,from
OldHighGerman.21Giskiht,asechoedingeschehen,bespeaks

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themomentaryandcontingentcharacterofanyevent,incident,orepisode.22Giskihtalsosoundsoutnotonlyparticularevents23buttheoccurrenceof
theirgatheringintoameaningfulwhole.24FromthisetymologywemayseethatGeschichteandgeschichtlichechotheoccurringofbeingsnotintheir
determinateanalyzableobjectivity,notasthingsalreadydetermined,notasunchangingessences,butintheiressentialtemporality.Heideggerschoiceof
wordsechoesanopening,momentaryandunpredictable,apassagethatisunanalyzableaswellasunpredictable,althoughgivenforthegatheringofbeings
intheirconfigurations.
ThisdifferentiationbetweenGeschichteandHistoriedoesnotbeginwithHeidegger.Wemaytraceitbacktotherootsofhermeneutics.Thedifferentiation
isfirstmadebytheGermantheologianM.KhlerandisthensystematicallysustainedinthehermeneuticsofscripturefromDiltheytoBultmann.25In
HeideggersownworkwefindthedifferentiationalreadymadeinthehermeneuticsofBeingandTime,wherehedifferentiatesspecificallybetweenthe
historicity(Geschichtlichkeit)oftheopeningofbeingasgivenwithdasein,andthehistoriographythatispossibleinthelightofthisdisclosingoccurrence.
Temporalityrevealsitselfasthehistoricity(Geschichtlichkeit)ofdasein.Thestatementthatdaseinishistoricalisconfirmedasanexistential
andontologicalfundamentalproposition.ItisfarremovedfrommerelyonticallyascertainingthefactthatDaseinoccursinaworld
history(Weltgeschichte).Thehistoricityofdasein,however,isthegroundofapossiblehistoriographicalunderstanding(historisches
Verstehen)thatinitsturnharborsthepossibilityofgettingaspecialgraspofthedevelopmentofhistoriographyasascience(Historieals
Wissenschaft).26
ThisarticulationofthedifferencebetweenHistorieandGeschichteremainslimitedbythetranscendentaldirectionofthedaseinanalytictowardan
essentialtemporalground/horizoninBeingandTime,anditisthereforetoberethoughtinContributions.However,thedistinctionbetweenhistoriography
(Historie)andtheoccurrence(Geschichte)ofbeingsintheopeningofbeyngmaybefollowedthroughtoContributionsandtracedbackfromContributions
tothethinkingoftemporalitythatHeideggerisalreadycomingtoinBeingandTime.27
Thedifferentiationbetweenfactualhistory(Historie)andhistoricaloccurrenceassuch(Geschichte)isindicatedbyHeideggerslanguageinContributions.
HeideggerspeaksinContributionsofbeynghistoricalthinkingasatransition(bergang),andhealsocallsthisthinkingathinking
underway(Gedankengang).28InthesecondcaseHeideggeremphasizesthepassageofthinkingunderliningandseparatinggangfromGedanken.The
twotermsdirectlyreferthethinkingofContributionstoHeideggersunderstandingofthewaybeyngisgiventobethoughtin

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Greekexperience.TheopeningofbeyngoccursfortheGreeksandisthusindicatedwiththewordphusis.ThiswordHeideggertakestoindicatethevery
WesungdesSeyns,thepassingincomingtobeofbeyng,translatedastheessentialswayingofbeing.29HeideggertranslatesphusisasAufgehen,or
Aufgang:awordthatrecallsthespringingforth,takingplace,comingoutthatechoesinphusis.30Thus,bergangandGedankengangrecalltheAuf
gang,thepassageintheveryoccurrenceofthecomingtobeinpassingawayofbeyng.
ThePassingofBeyngHistoricalThinking
Inthebeginningpart(Vorblick)ofContributions,Heideggerspeaksofbeynghistoricalthinkingasatransition(bergang)frommetaphysicstothe
otherbeginningofthinking(derandereAnfangdesDenkens),31i.e.,fromtheinterpretationofbeingintermsofbeingsthatoccurswithGreekthoughtat
thebeginningofourmetaphysicaltradition,totheotherbeginning.ThisthinkingmotionisforHeideggernotabridgebutathinkingthatitselfoccursasa
passage.Heideggercallshisthinkingathinkingunderway(Gedankengang).32Thetermsfirst,other,andtransition,donotrefertotwopoints,an
originanditsother,whicharetobebridgedbyacertaincrossingoverfromonelocationtoanotherinhistory.33HeideggersaysinContributionsthatthe
otherbeginningistheonlyotheroutofrelationtotheoneandonlyfirstbeginning[ausdemBezugzudemeinzigeinenunderstenAnfang].34Whatisto
bethoughtisasingleoccurrence,asinglepassage,theonlyoneandfirstbeginningofthinking.Beynghistoricalthinkingwouldoccurthenasanattemptat
beginning,anattemptataninceptualthinking,anattemptatananfnglichesDenken.35Therefore,inordertounderstandbeynghistoricalthinking,we
wouldhavetoentertheplayofthisattemptingbeginning,wewouldhavetostandintheinbetweenthatistheplaceorpassageoftheoccurrenceofthis
thinking.
HeideggerasksinContributions,Whatisthebeginning[Anfang]?Hereplies,
Itistheessentialswayingofbeingitself[dieWesungdesSeinsselbst].Butthisbeginningfirstbecomesenactableastheotherbeginninginits
encounter[Auseinandersetzung]withthefirst.Beginningunderstoodinceptually[anfnglichbegriffen]isbeyngitself.36
Inthispassagewefindtwoaspectsofbeginning(Anfang).Heideggerfirstsaysthatbeginningistheessentialswayingofbeyngitself.Butthenhegoeson
tomakethefollowingobservations:beginninginthesenseofbeyngitselfcanonlyoccurintheencounter(Auseinandersetzung)

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ofthefirstandotherbeginning.Thefirstandtheotherbeginningdonotdefinepointsinhistory,asifweweretoaccomplishamovefrompointAtopoint
B.37Itisintheencounteroffirstandotherbeginning,intheirplayingoffeachother,thattheyenacttheopeningofbeyng.Furthermore,whatHeideggeris
sayingisthattheoneandonlybeginningisbeyngitselfasitoccursintheplayencounteroffirstandotherbeginning.Thebeginning(Anfang),asthe
oneandonlybeginningbeingenacted,cannotbeunderstoodasanoriginthatisunchanging,becausebeyngcanonlyoccurinandasenactment
(Vollzug).Inotherwords,thereisnotanunchangingoriginorbeginningtowhichthinkingmightreturn.38Todeepentheplayencounterofthebeginnings
byreducingthemtoarepresentationofacertainoriginaleventwouldbetolosepreciselythethoughtthattakesplaceinContributions.Theencounterof
thefirstandotherbeginningcanbeunderstoodoutoftheoriginarytemporalityoftheopeningofbeyngitself.
GeschichtlichesDenken,thethinkingofthehistoryofbeyngassuch,occursotherwisethaninthetraditionalsenseofhistory,metaphysics,or
transcendentalphilosophy.Putinanotherway,beynghistoricalthinkingdoesnotoccurinthetermsofthelogicthathasheldandgivenmeaningtothe
traditionsincetheGreeks.AsIhavepointedoutabove,accordingtoHeideggeritisthesettingupofacertainlogicofaffirmationandpresencethat
reducesthequestionofbeingassuchtothequestionofthebeingnessofbeingsatthebeginningofGreekphilosophy.39Withthislogiccomestheintrinsic
associationofthequestionofbeingwiththatofproduction.AccordingtoHeideggeritisthisassociationofbeingassuchwithpoiesisandtechnethat
erasesthequestionofthepassageofbeyng.Thisproductionorientedlogicthatisthenassumedandattributed,dictatedtobeing,isalsousedinthe
interpretationoftemporality.Inthiswaytimeisdividedintopresent,past,andfuture,sectionsoftemporalitythatassuchmaketimemarchaccordingto
thelogicofpresence,makeitquantifiable,fixable,andproducible.40
IfwenowgobacktothepassageonbeginningfromContributions,accordingtoHeidegger,theotherbeginningoccursinplaywiththeonlyoneand
firstbeginning.Thismeansthattheotherbeginningoccursalwaysandonlyalongwithafirstbeginning.Theotherbeginningcanonlymakeanysense
intheplaywiththefirstbeginning.Whatoccurshereisastrangeturn,areturnofthefirstbeginning.Isayreturnbecauseinthemotionofgoingoverto
theotherbeginning,andsincetheotherbeginningcanonlyoccurinthelightofthefirst,theremustalwaysbeacertainrecallingofthefirstbeginning,a
certainturningagainofthefirstbeginningthatunsettlesandovercomestheveryconceptofafirstunchangingorigin.
Theplayencounteroffirstandotherbeginningoccursonlyintheenactmentofanoriginaryeventthathasnometaphysicalorigin.Inthe

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Page56
returningmotionofbeynghistoricalthinking,nothingislefttooblivion,nothingremainsundisturbed.InthelastsectionofDieGeschichtedesSeyns,
Heideggerwritesalistofenactments,ofmomentsofconfigurationofthehistoryofbeyng.Neartheend,referringtoHlderlinspoetry,Heideggerwritesa
singlename,Mnemosyne.41Thisnamebringstomindmemoryandtemporality,butitdoessobyappealingtotheoverturningortransformativepower
inherentinmemorialevents.Mnemosyneisthenameoftheriverthatrunsoutsidethelogicofbeingsandtheirhistory:thenamemarksthemotionofa
riverthatrunsbackwards.Wemightconsiderthisrecallingoftheriverintryingtounderstandthemotionofthoughtbehindthegoingover.Tosaythat
ariverrunsbackwardsisnottosaythatariverrunsitscoursetoanendandthenreturnstoaneverpresentbeginningororigin.42Thereisno
geometricalpossibilityforMnemosyne.Toflowbackwardsistocontradictanylinearorobjectivetemporallogic.Ariverflowingbackwardsdefeatsany
teleologyorprojectedhorizon,sinceinitsmotionitgoesbackonlyingoingforward,andatthesametime,itgoesforwardonlybyclaimingitspast,its
origin.Furthermore,itsgoingbackwardsisagoingonthatinmovingtowardthepastdecenterseveryoccurrenceinthatpast,sothatthegoingonisat
onceanappropriationanddecenteringofallorigins.43
Infiguringthisreturningorovercomingmotionofbeynghistoricalthinking,wearenowspeakingofthemotionbywhichwhatremainstheunthinkable
empty,ornothing,inthetraditionofmetaphysics,isbroughtforthasthemattertobethoughtifbeyngassuchistobethought.Witheachreturning,
thefirstbeginningisbroughtforthnotintherepetitionofanunchangingoriginbutintheopeningpossibilityoftheeventofalteritythatisinherenttoits
occurrence.OnemightthinkbacktothedeathofGodandhowforHeideggerthisisnottheendofhistory,theclosureofthequestionofessence,buta
momentofpassagegiventobeunderstood,withstood,andundergoneinitsfulldensityandconcretenessasthemattertobethoughtisgiveninthatdeath,
i.e.,initsdensitythinkinghasnoclosureintheovercomingmotionoftheessentialswayingofbeing.ThisiswhatHeideggerispointingoutwhenhesaysin
GeschichtedesSeyns,DasNichtsnichtet.44
Becausenothingdoesnothaveaplaceinthelogicofbeings,thisotherness,arisenintheovercomingmotionofthehistoryofbeyng,cannotbereinscribed
intothefirstmetaphysicalbeginning.Sincethefirstbeginninghasitselfbeenrecalledinthelightofitsotherness,andthisothernesscannotbethoughtin
termsofit,thefirstbeginningwoulditselfbethinkableotherwisethaninthetraditionalway.Butthiswouldbebecausewhatgivesitselftobethoughtisno
longerthebeingofbeingsbutthepassageofbeynginitstruth(dieWahrheitdesSeyns).45

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Thisunsettlingorovercomingmotionischaracteristicofbeynghistoricalthinking.Inthinkinginthisreturnwecometoapassagethat,inenactingits
takingplace,hasalwaysalreadygoneoutside,beyonditsoriginaryoccurrenceortoputitinversely,thepassageofbeyngalwaysmustremain
unsurpassable,sinceitsbeginninghasalwaysalreadybeenovercomebyitsveryoccurrence.Intheopennessoftemporalityassuch,orderingbelongsnotto
logicandproductionbuttotemporalityinitsonesingleopeninginwhichpast,present,andfutureareatplayatonce.
WefindthischaracteristicreturningofbeynghistoricalthinkingindicatedinthefirstpartofContributions,whereHeideggersaysthatThethinkingof
thefutureisathinkingunderway(Gedankengang).46Inthelightoftheovercomingcharacterofbeynghistoricalthinking,wecannowsaythatthe
thinkingtocome47isnotsomeotheraccountofbeing.Rather,itisathinkingtocomebecauseitmustinhabititsplaceinthefuturebyundergoingits
ownpassing,bybeingathinkingthatinitsovercomingpassingmustalwaysremainunderway.ButthatHeideggerwouldindicatethatbeynghistorical
thinkingisaGedankengangindicatesthathisthinkinginContributionsisathinkingthatoccursintheawarenessofthisovercomingcharacterofthe
thinkingofbeyng.Wearespeakingofathinkingthatoccursinitsawarenessofitsoccurrenceoutofphusis(Aufgehen),athinkingthatoccursinthe
enactmentofitsownpassage.Whatwediscoverhereisthatindeed,HeideggersthoughtinContributionsisnotapassagetowardahorizonthatawaitsit,
noranostalgicreturntotheGreeks.AsHeideggersaysinthePreview,Wearealreadymovingwithinanothertruth,evenaswearestillinthe
crossing.48Whatbeynghistoricalthinkingindicatesisanovercomingmotionthatmarksinitspassageanopening,aninceptivemomentthatassuch
enactstheopeningmotionofathinkingsayingthatinitsquestioningkeepsopenthepossibilityofbeyngoutofitsessentialsway.Therestofthissection
willbedevotedtofurtherclarificationofthisstatement.
InContributionsHeideggerspeaksofbeginning(Anfang).Furthermore,beynghistoricalthinkingisitselfinseparablefromthenotionofbeginning
(Anfang),sincethisthinkingoccursasananfnglichesDenken(inceptivethinking).Therefore,theissueisnowhowtounderstandHeideggersnotionof
beginning.Inapassagealreadycited,HeideggersaysthatBeginning(Anfang)understoodinceptuallyisbeyngitself.Thisbringsustothesecond
aspectofAnfang.Insection242ofContributions,Heideggersays,thetruth[ofbeyng]asgroundgroundsoriginarilyasabground.49Thismeansthat
thetruthofbeyngoccursasanungroundedgroundingmotion.Thisalsomeansthatinorderto

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understandAnfangwewouldhavetoseekitinthelightoftheessentialswayofbeynginitstruthinenowning(Ereignis).
Beforegoingonwemightkeepinmindwhatisnotimpliedbythewordungrounding.Weshouldbecarefulandnotpresupposeagroundthatmustbe
therefirstinorderfortheungroundingtooccur,andweshouldalsobecarefulnottounderstandthisungroundingcharacterofgroundasanabsenceof
grounding.Inotherwords,ungroundingisbeingspokenofinthetransitionfrommetaphysicsandisthereforenotmeantasagroundinthemetaphysical
ortranscendentalsenseatthesametime,itisintroducedintheconcretesenseofageschichtlicheGrndung,aconcretelivingoccurrencethatisnotan
immovablegroundbutdoesoccurasgroundinginthefulltemporalandfinitesense.
Theabground,orungroundingofbeyng,occursasatwofoldmotion.ItoccursasEntrckungandasBerckung.50Entrckungreferstothewithdrawing
aspectofthetruthofbeyng,51whereasBerckungreferstotherisingorcomingoutthatoccursinthatwithdrawal.AsifIweretounderstandmy
beinghere,nowtemporallyandspatiallyasasinglepassageconstitutedbythisfallingrising,i.e.,notasthebeingofanentitythatcanexerciseitsgravity
byfallingandreactwithastonishment,52notasanentitybetweendeathandlife,butastheoccurrenceofbeinginsinglepassageincomingtobeincoming
topass.Itisthisfallingrisingmotionofbeyngthatcharacterizesbeynghistoricalthinking.Itisinthismotionintheoccurrenceofbeyngthatbeyng
historicalthinkingappearsasthethinkingofbeyng,athinkingfromenowning(vomEreignis).
Itisintheresounding(Anklang)ofthisfallingrisingofbeynginitsessentialswaythatbeynghistoricalthinkingoccurs(ereignet).53Atthesametime,this
thinkingisanenactingthinkingbecauseitoccursinthisresoundinginatimespaceplayinwhichbeyngsessentialswayisheldopentoitspossibility.This
doublemotionofbeingheldinthesoundingoutofbeyngandholdingopeninthisattentivenessthepossibilityofitseventisthewaybeynghistorical
thinkingcanbeunderstoodfromenowning(Ereignis).54Heideggerindicatesthisdifficultplayofbeyngandbeynghistoricalthinkinginsection21,
InceptualThinking(ProjectingOpen),wherehesays,Theprojectingopenunfoldsthethrowerandatthesametimeseizesitwithinwhatopensup.55
WhenHeideggersaysthatunderstoodinceptually,beginning(Anfang)isbeyngitself(istdasSeynselbst),56heispointingpreciselytothisdoubleplay,to
theveryoccurrenceofbeynginEreignis(enowning)astheopeningheldfastbytheinsistenceofathinkingquestioningthatinitsremainingwiththe
questioniscaughtandheldbytheprojectingopenofbeynginitsunfolding.TherootofAnfangisfangen,averbthatmeanscapturing,holding.
Anfangisbeyngitselfasitoccursinthe

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beingheldandholdingintheopennessofitsessentiallyswayingungroundedgroundingoccurrence.Theword,beginning,understoodinceptiblymarksthe
passingfallingrisingmotionofbeyngasheldopeninitspossibilitybybeynghistoricalthinking.
Thecharacterofbeynghistoricalthinkingasinceptualthinking(anfnglichesDenken)isthereforetwofold.Beynghistoricalthinkingoccursoutofthe
essentialswayinginthetruthofbeyng.Butasthistruthoccursasenowning(Ereignis),inthefallingrisingofitsoccurrence,beynghistoricalthinkingisa
thinkingenactingofthisungroundingmotion,athinkingthatwouldletresoundinitsopennessapassing,ratherthanpresentastoryaboutbeingsorany
metaphysicalortranscendentalsystem.
Thatwhereupontheleap,inopeningup,leapsfirstbecomesgroundthroughtheleaptheselfbecomesproperlyitsownintheleap57
IfweweretothinkfromEreignis,intheoccurrence(Geschehen)ofbeyng,ifweweretothinkfromwithinthemotionofthepassageofbeyng,wereweto
thinknothing,wewouldhavetothinkinthefaceofthedifficultyoftheungroundedcharacterofbeyng,andalsotherefore,intheawarenessofthe
ungroundingcharacterofitsthinking,thethinkingofbeyng.Thismeansthatthinkingwouldoccurinutterplay,inafreefallingleapthatwouldoccurin
itsfreefalling,bothinandoutoftheveryenactmentofitsungroundedgrounding.And,itwouldmean,almostattheend,thatthinkingwouldremainin
thatunbridgeableleap(Sprung)appearinginourspeaking,makingpresentandinthatnothingnessoutofwhich,andinattunementtowhich,anyspeaking
wouldoccur.Beynghistoricalthinkingwouldthenbethisspeakinginthepassingswayofbeyng.
EnactmentsofBeyng
Theovercomingmotionofbeynginitspassingcallsnotforastoryaboutbeings58butforanenactment(Vollzug)59thatassuchwouldremaininthe
opennessofthispassingbyundergoingthefallingrisingofbeynginitsoccurring(Geschehen).Contributionsoccursassuchenactment.Thisiswhat
Heideggerindicateswheninthelastsentenceofthefirstpagehesaysthatthethinkingsayingthatbelongstotheenowningofbeyngisthewordof
beyng[indasWortdesSeyns].60InTheHistoryofBeyngHeideggerhasmoretosayabouttheofbeyng.Hesays,
4.thewordofbeyng.
5.thebeynghistoricalgenitive(Notgenitivusobjectusandsubjectus).61
Ofismeanttoindicatetheopennessofthinkinginitsenactment,

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initsattempting(Versuch)athinkingthatinitspassageisenownedbyitscomingtobeinpassingawayinbeyng.Itisbeynghistoricalthinkingthat
Contributionsenactswithitsfugalstructure:abookwrittenasarepeatingofthesamebeginningineachofitssixsections,ormovements.62These
movementsarenotgatheredintoasystem.Rather,theyremainintheopenplayofthetemporalityofthepassageofbeyngbygivingthesesixvariations.In
understandingbeynghistoricalthinkinginitstemporality,onewouldthinkthatContributionsisneitherasystem,norahandfulofmeditations,butawork
unifiedinitsremainingintheveryopennessofthepassingofbeyng,inremainingintheawarenessofaleapthatwouldalwaysbeunreachedinitsown
event.
Butif,asIhavesuggested,Contributionsenactsthetemporalizingpassageofbeyngsessentialsway,itdoessoconcretely.Thisisprimarilywhat
enactmentwouldsuggest,athinkingundergoingofbeynginitspassingmotion.Indeed,HeideggerindicatesinthesectionofContributionstitled
Grndungthatitiswiththeholdingopenofthequestionofbeynginitsspacetimeleeway(ZeitRaumSpiel)thatthedecision(Entscheidung)ofbeyngs
essentialswaywouldoccur.63Inspeakingofbeynghistoricalthinking,wehavebeenspeakingintheconfiguringmotionofbeynginitsconcreteoccurring.
Thismotionstandsoutsidethematerialidealdualismofmetaphysicsandtranscendentalphilosophiesandatthesametimeplacesthinkinginthevery
occurrenceofbeyngsessentialswayintheconfiguringpassingofwords,worksofart,things,bodies,identities,communitiesallofwhichnowremainsto
bethought.
Notes

1.GA65,3CP,3.Forbibliographicalinformationonthetextsreferredtohere,seetheintroductiontothisvolume,note1.WhenIusemyowntranslation
ofentirepassagesorparticularterms,IgivetheEmad/Malytranslationinanote.
IhavechosentotranslateSeynasbeyngandnotasbeing.ThischoiceisinpartawayofmarkingtheleapHeideggerismakingfromSeinto
Seyn,wherethetermsalthoughdifferentiated,stillrecalleachother.
2.Thisisalreadyannouncedinthesameparagraphabove,whereHeideggerspeaksofthematterthatisalreadyintimatedbythetitleofthework:
AberderffentlicheTitelentsprichtauchinsofernderSache.
3.IhavechosentouseStambaughstranslationofHistorieasHistoriography,andofGeschichteashistory.SeeMartinHeidegger,BeingandTime,
trans.JoanStambaugh(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1996.)AsEmadandMalypointout,differentiatingthesetwotermsiscentraltothe
readingofContributions.Thetranslatorsmarkthisdifferencebyusinghistoryforbothwords,buttheyindicateHistoriebywritingitinparentheses
followingtheEnglishwordhistory(TranslatorsForeword,CP,xxiixxiii).Ihavealsoadded

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occurrencetoStambaughsuseofhistoryfortheGermanGeschichte.ThisIfindhelpfulinatleasttwoways.First,thiswordreferstoevent,
incident,andepisode.ThusthetemporalandpassingcharacterofGeschichte,aswellasitsparticularityastheoccurrenceofbeyngareputintoplay.
Also,occurrencerelatesGeschichtetoEreignisinthesenseoftheopeningofbeynginitsparticulargivenness,andnotonlyintermsofEreignisas
Event,awordthatalreadysuggeststheplacementoftheGeschichtedesSeynsandseynsgeschichtlichesDenkenintoagrandhistoriographicalscale.
4.ThetranslationofWesenandWesungrequirescarefulconsideration,givenHeideggersparticularandvarioususesoftheseterms(seeEmadandMalys
discussionintheirforeword,CP,xxivxxvi).AsEmadandMalypointout,thechoiceofessentialswayandessentialswaying,respectively,isnot
idealbutitdoespointbothtothedynamiccharacteraswellastotheparticularphysicalityoftheoccurrenceofbeyng.WhenIspeakofphysicality,I
meantheresonanceofphusisthatisalwaysatplayinHeideggersbeynghistoricalthinking.HowWesungbringsthisphysicalityintoplaymaybeinferred,
forexample,fromthefactthatinGermanusage,WesungisnotidentifiedwithsuchanontologicaldeterminationofbeingasthatindicatedbydasWesen,a
termtraditionallyusedinGermanasanalogoustoessentiaeandindirectcontrasttoabeingsparticularwayofbeingorDasein.Wesunginsteadrecalls
preciselythediverseconfiguringsofparticularlivingprocesses,as,forexample,inthewordVerwesung,whichmeansdecayordecomposition.
5.ThroughoutthisessayIspeakofpresenceasthepresenceofentitiesathand(Anwesen),andofappearingastheveryoccurrenceofappearing.
6.GA65,3CP,3.
7.Ibid.
8.GrundfragenderPhilosophie,GA45,133.
9.MartinHeidegger,Nietzsche:DereuropischeNihilismus(Pfullingen:GntherNeske,1989),p.25.MartinHeidegger,Nietzsche,vol.3,trans.FrankA.
Capuzzi,DavidFarrellKrell,andJoanStambaugh,ed.DavidFarrellKrell(SanFrancisco:HarperSanFrancisco,1987),p.5.
10.EreignistranslatedasenowningreferstotheoccurrenceofbeyngasthoughtinContributions.
11.Heidegger,Nietzsche,ed.BrigitteSchillbach,vol.1,GA6.1(FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1996),pp.6465Heidegger,Nietzsche,vols.
12,ed.Krell.
12.MartinHeidegger,SeinundZeit(Tbingen:MaxNiemeyerVerlag,1986),p.6(BeingandTime,trans.Stambaugh,p.5).
13.MartinHeidegger,DieGeschichtedesSeyns,ed.PeterTrawny,GA69(FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1998),p.173.
14.Ibid.,p.168.
15.InbringingtogetherHeideggersthoughtandNietzsches,wefindadifficultdoublestandard.Ontheonehand,HeideggerclaimsthatNietzsches
thinkingremainsmetaphysicalintheformofthedoctrineofthewilltopower.Ontheotherhand,readotherwise,Nietzschesthoughtseemstoenacta
selfovercomingmotionthatleadsitbeyondmetaphysics,onethatwefindinHeideggersthoughtinContributions.Itisthenaquestionnotonlyof
NietzscheasthelastmetaphysicianandHeideggerasthethinkeroftheotherbeginning

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Page62
itisalso,andmoreinterestingly,aquestionofhowmuchofametaphysicalreadingNietzschesthoughtacceptsandhowmuchofaNietzscheanreading
Heideggersthoughtwithstands.Itisineachcaseaquestionofthinkingatthelimit.Inotherwords,thequestionoftherelationbetweenthesetwothinkers
belongstothelimitofthoughtinwhatgivesitselftobethoughtoutofthehistoryofbeyng(DieGeschichtedesSeyns),anditwouldonlybeincomingto
thisbeynghistoricalthinking(seynsgeschichtlichesDenken)thatthequestioncouldbethoughtbyus.WefindHeideggersownattemptinhis1943lecture
NietzschesWord:GodIsDead,alecturethatbringstogetherHeideggersworkonNietzscheduringtheyearsofthecompositionofContributions.(See
MartinHeidegger,NietzschesWortGottistTod,inHolzwege,ed.FriedrichWilhelmvonHerrmann,GA5[FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,
1977]NietzschesWord:GodIsDead,inTheQuestionConcerningTechnologyandOtherEssays,trans.W.Lovitt[NewYork:Harper,1977]).
16.Thefivemainrubricswehavementionednihilism,evaluationofthevalueshitherto,willtopower,eternalrecurrenceofthesame,and
overmaneachportrayNietzschesmetaphysicsfromjustoneperspective,althoughineachcaseitisaperspectivethatdefinesthewhole(Heidegger,
Nietzschevol.4,Nihilism,FrankA.Capuzzi,ed.DavidFarrellKrell(SanFrancisco:HarperCollins,1987),p.9Heidegger,Nietzsche:Dereuropische
Nihilismus,vol.2,p.40.
17.Seenote4above.
18.Seenote2above.Cf.GA65,5CP,4:DasbergnglicheDenkenleistetdengrndendenEntwurfderWahrheitdesSeynsalsgeschichtliche
Besinnung.
19.Seenote17above.
20.GA65,32CP,23.GeschichtehiernichtgefatalseinBereichdasSeiendenunteranderen,sonderneinzigimBlickaufdieWesungdesSeynsselbst.
21.HistorischesWrterbuchderPhilosophie,vol.3,ed.J.Ritter(Darmstadt:WissenschaftlicheBuchgesellschaft,1974),p.352.
22.Ibid.:dasmomentane,zuflligeEreignis,derAnfangirgendeinesGeschehens.
23.Ibid.ThewordthatistranslatedintotheLatineventus,fromwhichwegetevent,isnotgiskehtbutanaskiht.GiskehtistranslatedintoLatinas
casus.
24.Ibid.:nichtnurdieeinmaligeTatundSache,sondernaucheingrererEreigniszusammenhang.
25.Ibid.,pp.39899.WithregardtoDilthey,seesection77ofBeingandTime.
26.Heidegger,BeingandTime,trans.Stambaugh,Introduction,part2,section69,p.332SeinundZeit,p.305.SeealsoBeingandTime,
Introduction,section6,TheTaskofDeconstructingtheHistoryofOntologyand,partII,chapter5,sections7277:TemporalityandHistoricity.
27.HereitisamatteroftakingHeideggerswordsconcerningBeingandTimeandtheturn(Kehre)mostrigorously.In1949,forthesecondeditionof
VomWesenderWahrheit(1930),Heideggerappendstwofinalparagraphstotheearlierversion.ThereHeideggersays,DieAntwortaufdieFragenach
demWesenderWahrheitistdieSageeinerKehreinnerhalbderGeschichtedesSeyns(Theresponsetothequestionoftheessenceoftruthisthesayingof
a

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Page63
turninginthehistoryofbeyng).Heideggerslanguageclearlyplaceshisthinkinginthethirties,andeveninBeingandTime(seethefinalparagraphofthe
1949edition,beginning,DieentscheidendeFrage[SeinundZeit,1927]),withinthequestionofthehistoryofbeyng.Heideggerisnotonlysayingthis
buthemarksitbyusingSeyn,thearchaicformofSeinthatmarksHeideggersthinkinginContributions.Itwouldthenbepossible,andperhapsnecessary,
notonlytoreadHeideggersthoughtasamotionfromearlytopostturnHeidegger,buttoreadbackwards,i.e.,forexample,lookingatBeingandTimein
thelightofHeideggersthoughtintheearlythirtiesandinContributions.(SeeOntheEssenceofTruth,BasicWritings,trans.JohnSallis,ed.David
FarrellKrell[SanFrancisco:HarperCollins,1993]VomWesenderWahrheit[1930],Wegmarken[FrankfurtamMain:VittorioKlostermann,1978].)
28.GA65,34CP,34:DieBeitrgefragenineinerBahn.
29.Thistranslationkeepsthesenseofmotionofthecomingtobeinpassingofbeyng.ThereisinHeideggeracrucialdifferencebetweentheoccurrenceof
theopeningofbeyngasgiveninGreekexperience,phusis,andthemetaphysicalinterpretationofthisgivingnessthroughalogosofobjectivepresenceand
calculation.ThisawarenessofthedoubleplayofthetruthofbeyngintheGreekbeginningispresentthroughoutHeideggersthinkingconcerningGreek
philosophy.
30.Aletheia(Heraklit,Fragment16)(summersemester,1943),VortrgeundAufstze(Pfullingen:GntherNeske,1985),pp.16366Aletheia
(Heraclitus,FragmentB16),EarlyGreekThinking,trans.DavidFarrellKrellandFrankA.Capuzzi(NewYork:HarperandRow,1975),p.114.Cf.
MartinHeidegger,DerAnfangdesabendlndischenDenkens.Heraklit(summersemester,1943),inHeraklit,ed.ManfredS.Frings,GA55(Frankfurt
amMain:VittorioKlostermann,1979),pp.12731.
31.GA65,34CP,35.
32.GA65,3CP,3.
33.WemightthinkhereofHeideggersdiscussionofthebridgeinBuilding,Dwelling,Thinking:Thebridgegatherstoitselfinitsownwayearthand
sky,divinitiesandmortals.thebridgedoesnotfirstcometoalocaltostandinitratheralocalcomesintoexistenceonlybyvirtueofthebridge.By
thissitearedeterminedtheplacesandpathsbywhichaspaceisprovidedfor.Evenifthoughtweretoenactabridge,itwouldbethisthinkingthatwould
occurasthegatheringforpastandfuture,anditwouldhavetobethoughtassuch.SeeBuilding,Dwelling,Thinking,BasicWritings,ed.Krell,pp.353
63BauenWohnenDenken,VortrgeundAufstze,pp.14656.
34.GA65,5,translationminecf.CP,4.
35.Seesections2024:GA65,5561CP,3843.Cf.DerAnfangderabendlndischenPhilosophie(summersemester,1932),GA35.Throughoutthis
essay,IhavefollowedtheEmad/MalytranslationofanfnglichasinceptualandanfnglichesDenkenasinceptualthinkingIhavedonesoinorderto
pointtothedynamicorpassingcharacteroftheoccurrencebeingthoughtandtothecharacterofthisthinkinginwhatHeideggercallsthe
leap(Sprung).
36.GA65,58,translationminecf.CP,41:Itistheessentialswayingofbeingitself.Butthisbeginningfirstbecomesenactableastheotherbeginning
whenthefirstbeginningisputintoproperperspective.Graspedinceptually,thebeginningisbeingitself.

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37.Insection117ofDieGeschichtedesSeyns(GA69),Heideggeralsostates,Thehistorical[historisch]neverletshistoryitself[Geschichte]be
experienced,letalonethought.Thisneitherresolvesnoreliminatesbutratheropensthequestionofthegatheringofthehistoricalinthinking.Fora
discussionofthisissue,see,forexample,PeterWarneksReadingPlatobeforePlatonism(AfterHeidegger),ResearchinPhenomenology27(1997).
38.HeideggerhasalreadymadethismoveinOntheEssenceofTruth(BasicWritings,ed.Krell)VomWesenderWahrheit(1930),Wegmarken.
39.HansGeorgGadamer,Plato,inHeideggersWays,trans.JohnW.Stanley(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1994)HeideggersWege
(Tbingen:J.C.B.Mohr,1983).
40.LeonardoSamona,LAltroIniziodellaFilosofia,GiornalediMetafisica,NewSeries12(1990):80.
41.DieGeschichtedesSeyns(19381940),GA69,173.Cf.Heidegger,TheAnaximanderFragment,inEarlyGreekThinking,p.36DerSpruchdes
Anaximander(1946),Holzwege,GA5,34549.
42.CharlesE.Scott,TheTimeofMemory(Albany:StateUniversityofNewYorkPress,1999).
43.WefindaformulationofthismotionalreadyinBeingandTime,whereHeideggerdiscussesitastheDestruktionderGeschichtederOntologie,
section6,pp.1927.
44.GA69,168.
45.Inspeakingofpassageandthetruthofbeyng,wearealreadyapproachingthemotionofwithdrawalthatIdiscussinthenextsectionofthisessay.
46.GA65,3,translationminecf.CP,3.
47.InContributions,HeideggerspeaksoftheknftigeDenken(GA65,3)Thisdoesnotmeanthethinkingofafuturethatliesaheadrather,itreferstothe
Zukunft(future)initsdoublesenseofcomingtoandarrival,Ankunft.
48.GA65,18CP,14.
49.GA65,383CP,267.
50.GA65,385CP,268.
51.Heideggerhadalreadyintroducedthisthoughtofthewithdrawalofbeynginthethirties,inhisdiscussionsoftheGreektermaletheia,wherethe
lethicelementoftruthisfirstbroughttothequestionofthetruthofbeing.SeeGA65,329CP,23031.
52.Theastonishment(thaumadzein)oftheGreeksisforHeideggerthereductiveeventthatgroundsthefirstbeginning,i.e.,traditionalontologyand
metaphysics.HeideggertranslatestheGreektermasErstaunen(GA65,20CP,15).ThistermcanbecontrastedwithdasErschrecken,dieVerhaltenheit,
anddieScheu,thegroundattunementsofthinkingintheotherbeginning.SeeGA65,14CP,11.
53.GA65,385CP,267.
54.GA65,386CP,268.
55.GA65,56CP,39.
56.Seenote39above.
57.GA65,303CP,214:Thisisgroundedintheleap.Thatuntowhichtheleapleapsinenopeningisfirstgroundedbytheleap.theselfonlybecomes
itsownintheleap.

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58.SeinundZeit,p.6BeingandTime,trans.Stambaugh,p.5.
59.GA65,11CP,7.
60.GA65,3CP,3.
61.DieGeschichtedesSeyns,GA69,170.
62.GA65,1011CP,79.
63.SeepartV,GA65,37188:DieGrndung,DerZeitRaumalsderAbgrundCP,25976:Grounding,TimeSpaceasAbground.Cf.section
5,GA65,17CP,13.OnEntscheidung,seeGA65andCP,section5partIII,dasZuspiel(PlayingForth)partVIII,sections266,268.

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