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The Necessity of the Unnecessary: Heidegger, Buddhism, and Us

Publication at Faculty of Humanities |
2023

Abstract

This consideration copes with the often asked question about the possible influence of Heidegger's so-called "late" philosophy by Buddhism. With regard to this question, he rejects the idea of "influence", since none of Heidegger's philosophical research of this thought tradition can be proven, and he tries to put before the reader's eyes the basis of the indisputable "closeness" of the two, which prompts this and similar questions.

This foundation is found in the monitoring of the urgency of the unnecessary, which both parties - in mutually different ways and means - carry out. He briefly traces Heidegger's path, mainly using one of the Rozhovory na polní cestě (Conversations on a field trip), and the interpretation of Výzva (the Challenge) (Gehei3), followed by Western European thinking, given in the lectures Co znamená myslet? (What does it mean to think?).

The reflection strives, above all, for the reader to feel this challenge for themself.