MARTIN HEIDEGGER GERMAN PHILOSOPHER

Martin Heidegger born on 26 September 1889 in MeBkrich, Baden Wurttemburg federal state of the German Empire, was a German philosopher, one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. He focused on existentialism, and ontology particularly, in his book Being and Time. Heidegger explored the question of "Being" (exist) and introduced concepts like Dasein (human existence), thrownness (being in a world not of one's choice), and authenticity (living as per one's true self). He emphasized the relationship between humans and the world, rejecting traditional metaphysics. Heidegger later shifted to language, poetry, and technology, critiquing modernity's instrumental view of the world (in "The Question Concerning Technology"). His philosophy influenced existentialism, deconstruction, and postmodernism, impacting figures like Sartre, Derrida, and Foucault. Controversially Heidegger was a member of the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1945. He supported Hitler and his notion of Volk in a series of lectures. However, Heidegger later withdrew from politics and his work fell out of favor with the Nazi regime. He died on 26 May 1976 aged 86.