Basic Writings of Heidegger

I was killing time in a São Paulo bookstore tonight before dinner, and ran across the Basic Writings collection of Heidegger pieces. My main interest on this occasion was in seeing how well D.F. Krell’s introductory material would hold up today (it was written in 1978, and apparently retained for the 1993 edition, of which tonight’s copy was an instance).

And I’d have to say that it still reads pretty well. Some people are very fond of George Steiner’s book on Heidegger, but I always have the sense that Steiner’s book feels incredibly dated– as in, not a bad effort for the 1970’s, but way behind the curve now.

Krell’s effort seems much more digestible in 2012. True, the material on Heidegger’s politics may strike a slightly sour note today, since it now reads too much like an official apologia. Krell was also struggling against the fact that most of the Marburg Lecture Courses were not yet published in 1978. But his account is surprisingly detailed when it comes to the Early Writings collection. And considering that he must have still been under 35 at the time, the writing is worldly and sophisticated.

In other news from the bookstore, the Brazilians obviously adore Vilem Flusser. His books are everywhere.