On the other hand, if being is taken after the manner of a thing (seiend), it is thought back into its essence (Wesen), and being immediately goes up in smoke. Thus it is that in his short work Zur Seinsfrage Heidegger dramatically writes being crossed out: (Sein). This "being" we come upon when we ask after the essence of metaphysics, says Heidegger. In this sense is nihilism thought back into its very essence, the fundamental movement (Grundbewegung), the "inner logic" ("innere Logik") of the history of the West.

But why ask after the essence of nihilism? Why attempt to think metaphysics back into its essence? As Heidegger says, we ask after the essence of metaphysics in an attempt to overcome nihilism (Überwindung des Nihilismus). And the way "over the line," the way in which we may suceed in "turning the tables" on nihilism, is to be found in the fate of transcendence (Geschick des Überstiegs). By this Heidegger means that in asing after the essence of metaphysics in order to overcome nihilism we come to a discovery of the fateful transcendence of being over things. This is not the sort of investigation that is carried on by academic philosophy (Schulphilosophie); it is rather an investigation into the other than things (das Andere zum Seienden). It is, there, therefore, in a transcending of things in favor of their being that a true overcoming of nihilism is to be achieved.

¶ 6:50 PM