Heidegger

Well, yes, if the Other is not there, then the Other is missing. If I have
two chairs, and I take one chair away, the other chair won’t feel it is
alone. If one isolates a human, that human feels alone, for the very reason
that humans are social beings. The human feels that there is no social
contact precisely because he/she is kind of a priori enabled to be together
with other humans and have social contacts. So, he/she feels the lack of the
Other because he/she is existentially enabled to be-with other humans. If
he/she would not be existentially enabled to be with other humans, then
he/she would not feel that the Other is missing. Deficiency means a lack,
and the fact that one is existentially enabled to be with others enables
him/her to feel that lack, that void. So, humans are per definition social
beings, and they feel the lack of Others precisely because they are social
beings.

It is like Windows XP, always being installed with networking software,
though it is not necessary that the computer be connected to a network.

Greetings,

Tudor

—–Original Message—–
From: heidegger-bounces at soca.ecu.edu.au
[mailto:heidegger-bounces@soca.ecu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Anthony Crifasi
Sent: zaterdag 10 juni 2006 16:24
To: Discussions pertaining to the philosophy of Martin Heidegger
Subject: Re: a question if I may

—– Original Message —–
From: “Kevin Winters”

> Ed,
>
> Perhaps if you could give a reference where Heidegger “says that being
> alone
> is a deficient form of being with,” just for some context?

“Being-with is an existential characteristic of Dasein even when factically
no Other is present-at-hand or perceived. Even Dasein’s Being-alone is
Being-with in the world. The Other can be missing only in and for a
Being-with. Being-alone is a deficient mode of Being-with; its very
possibility is proof of this.” (SuZ 120)

Posted on Sunday, June 11th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
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