On Esotericism

Abstract

There was a famous discussion between Heidegger and Ernst Cassirer in Davos which revealed the lostness and emptiness of this remarkable representative of established academic philosophy to everyone who had eyes. Cassirer had been a pupil of Hermann Cohen, the founder of the neo-Kantian school. Cohen had elaborated a system of philosophy whose center was ethics. Cassirer had transformed Cohen's system into a new system of philosophy in which ethics had completely disappeared. It had been silently dropped: he had not faced the problem. Heidegger had faced the problem. He declared that ethics is impossible, and his whole being was permeated by the awareness that this fact opens up an abyss.... Only a great thinker could help us in our plight. But here is the great trouble: the only great thinker in our time is Heidegger. The only question of importance, of course, is the question whether Heidegger's teaching is true or not. But the very question is deceptive because it is silent about the question of competence—of who is competent to judge.

Strauss

Heidegger conceals nothing. He does not lie. He says what he really thinks.

Janicaud

It is important for us to understand, above all, the true intentions of our author, to illuminate what he thinks really needs to be said, and to surmise what is most critical for him.

Levinas

Only once or twice in my thirty to thirty-five years of teaching have I ever spoken about what really matters to me.

Heidegger

For a long time I have not said what I believed, nor do I ever believe what I say, and if indeed I do happen to tell the truth I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find.

Machiavelli

The `doctrine' of a thinker is what is unsaid in his saying, to which man is exposed so that he might expend himself for it.

Heidegger

But for those on the outside everything is in parables; so that they may see but not perceive, and hearing, they may hear but not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.

Mark 4:12

“Now do you recognize that I am a philosopher?”... “I would have, had you remained silent.”

Boethius

The same goes for Heidegger: It is necessary to know how to listen to the silences of philosophers. These are always eloquent.

Althusser