Heidegger, Morality and Politics

Questioning the Shepherd of Being

Sonia Sikka

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781108419796
• eBook ISBN: 9781108331128
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Modern Philosophy

Heidegger has often been seen as having no moral philosophy and a political philosophy that can only support fascism. Sonia Sikka's book challenges this view, arguing instead that Heidegger should be considered a qualified moral realist, and that his insights on cultural identity and cross-cultural interaction are not invalidated by his support for Nazism. Sikka explores the ramifications of Heidegger's moral and political thought for topics including free will and responsibility, the status of humanity within the design of nature, the relation between the individual and culture, the rights of peoples to political self-determination, the idea of race and the problem of racism, historical relativism, the subjectivity of values, and the nature of justice. Her discussion highlights aspects of Heidegger's thought that are still relevant for modern debates, while also addressing its limitations as reflected in his political affiliations and sympathies.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title
• Title page
• Copyright information
• Table of contents
• Acknowledgments
• Note on Citations
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1 Freedom and Necessity
• 2 Is Humanity an End in Itself?
• 3 Animals and Other Beings
• 4 Justice in Light of the Good
• 5 Cultures, Peoples, Nations
• 6 Was Heidegger Racist?
• 7 The Status of Reason
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Index