Heidegger on Knowledge

Just as Descartes stretched my mind, Heidegger is now doing the same. With Descartes it was about doubt, with Heidegger it is about being. Along with his discussion on being, Heidegger also touched on his philosophy of knowledge. I found his breakdown of knowledge interesting. On pages twenty-one and twenty-two Heidegger says that those who are knowledgeable are those who have the ability to learn. Ability to learn is shown by a person’s knowledge of their need to learn. This reminds me of Socrates, indeed Heidegger is a philosopher, and there is no doubting. Next Heidegger says the ability to learn implies that one has the ability to inquire. The image of inquiry brings visions of Honors in my head. Finally on page twenty-two Heidegger continues, “Inquiry is…the resolve to be able to stand in the openness of the essent.” Knowledge is not to “possess information” but to be able to struggle through inquiry. Isn’t that the point of honors? Honors seek to instill in us a desire to be learning and inquiring for the rest of our lives? Heidegger, I wager would agree with our program in this aspect. That is what Honors is about, and it was cool to notice that in our very own reading assignment.

P.S. I commented on Callie's post.