Book Description

A new 2024 translation of Martin Heidegger's early work "The History of Philosophy from Thomas Aquinas to Kant" (original German "Die Vorlesung Geschichte der Philosophie von Thomas von Aquin bis Kant"), originally published in 1926. This edition contains a new afterword by the Translator, a timeline of Heidegger's life and works, a philosophic index of core Heideggerian concepts and a guide for terminology across 19th and 20th century Existentialists. This translation is designed for readability and accessibility to Heidegger's enigmatic and dense philosophy. Complex and specific philosophic terms are translated as literally as possible and academic footnotes have been removed to ensure easy reading. It begins by situating Thomas Aquinas in the philosophical lineage, not to emphasize the Middle Ages or Catholic thought per se, but to trace the development of philosophical problems and methods from Aquinas to Kant. The paper emphasizes Aquinas's central role in consolidating general metaphysics through his interpretation of Aristotle, thereby laying the groundwork for subsequent philosophical developments. The narrative then moves on to examine the philosophical transformations initiated by Descartes, highlighting his introduction of the ego as a new principle of consciousness and reason. This shift marks a significant departure from medieval philosophical themes and sets the stage for the modern era of philosophy. The paper emphasizes how these new directions in philosophy, while breaking away from medieval thought, still carried forward fundamental ontological concerns. It also examines how these evolving philosophical approaches, particularly through figures such as Spinoza, Leibniz, and Kant, grappled with the nature of being, existence, and the systematic pursuit of knowledge. Throughout the text, the focus is on the continuity and transformation of fundamental philosophical problems, rather than a mere succession of opinions or theories. The work contextualizes these shifts within broader intellectual movements, including the transition from medieval to modern thought and the deepening exploration of metaphysical questions. The analysis of Kant's work, especially his Critique of Pure Reason, is presented as the culmination of these philosophical developments, bringing new depth and complexity to the understanding of metaphysical problems. In sum, the paper provides a detailed historical and conceptual mapping of the philosophical journey from Aquinas to Kant, emphasizing the enduring and evolving nature of fundamental philosophical inquiry.