The history of Western philosophy, then, has been a downward spiral into the “forgetfulness of Being”. It is at this point that Heidegger proposes “destruktion”, which would “loosen” tradition, reveal its history and “dissolve” those parts of it that have caused our forgetfulness. With these steps completed, pure Being could be free to reveal itself to us once again. Two factors determine the quality of Heidegger’s idea: the historical accuracy of his account of Western philosophy and the thoroughness of his avoidance of constrictive metaphysics. If Heidegger is incorrect on the first point, then the necessity of destruktion vanishes; and, if he fails on the second, then his project is incoherent.

¶ 9:40 PM