The Other Platonist Beginning : Heidegger and Neoplatonism

This book founds an other Platonist beginning by repositioning Plato and Neoplatonism in Heidegger’s history of metaphysics. This beginning begins with Plato and culminates in Heidegger. By revisiting Heidegger’s interpretation of Plato and retrieving Neoplatonist approaches to non-discursive thinking, the other beginning that has hitherto remained dormant within the history of thought is established. The author re-thinks Heidegger’s attribution of the collapse of truth　(alētheia) to Plato by recovering the dialogues’ deep topography, myths and inspired expression. The re-interpretation of Plato is then linked to Neoplatonism, where significant parallels with Heidegger emerge. The book thoroughly and consistently explores the non-discursive thinking of Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus with Heidegger’s poetic thinking.

This book founds an other Platonist beginning by repositioning Plato and Neoplatonism in Heidegger’s history of metaphysics. This beginning begins with Plato and culminates in Heidegger. By revisiting Heidegger’s interpretation of Plato and retrieving Neoplatonist approaches to non-discursive thinking, the other beginning that has hitherto remained dormant within the history of thought is established. The author re-thinks Heidegger’s attribution of the collapse of truth (aletheia) to Plato by recovering the dialogues’ deep topography, myths and inspired expression. The re-interpretation of Plato is then linked to Neoplatonism, where significant parallels with Heidegger emerge. The book thoroughly and consistently explores the non-discursive thinking of Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus with Heidegger’s poetic thinking.