Heidegger and Machiavelli: Political Foundings, Art, and the Question of How Ideas Rule

• In Event: Ancient Concepts in Contemporary Political Thought

Abstract

Heidegger famously claimed not to present an ethics in his thought, and debates about his politics are salient both because of his actions and his silence. Brian Harding’s Not Even a God Can Save Us Now opens another path in Heidegger studies: What if Machiavelli and Heidegger could be put in dialogue? Harding’s own work focuses on the theme of sacrifice and the creation/maintenance of political community. Ross Mittiga’s paper “What’s in a world?,” which compares Heidegger and DuBois, usefully situates Heidegger’s notion of Welt as foundational for politics and society. This paper will examine two points of comparison between Heidegger and Machiavelli: the question of what constitutes a political founding and their views on aesthetics (including the art of writing). It aims to clarify for both thinkers how exactly ideas rule, e.g. how some can cause a revolution while others prevent things from being said or meant.

Author

• Ashok Raj Karra, Odessa College