Sunday, April 16, 2023

Was Heidegger’s gelassenheit inspired by Taoism ? (ChatGPT)

Heidegger's concept of Gelassenheit, which roughly translates to "releasement" or "letting go," has been associated with Taoism by some scholars and philosophers, but the exact nature of the relationship between the two is a matter of debate.

Heidegger was certainly influenced by Eastern thought, including Taoism and Zen Buddhism. He was particularly interested in the idea of non-doing or non-action, which he saw as a way of being in the world that was free from the constant striving and calculation that characterizes modern Western society. In his later work, Heidegger used the term Gelassenheit to describe this state of being, which involves letting go of our attachment to our own goals and desires and allowing ourselves to be guided by a deeper sense of truth and meaning.

Some scholars have suggested that Heidegger's concept of Gelassenheit is directly influenced by Taoist ideas of wu wei, or non-action. Wu wei is a central concept in Taoism that emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with the natural world and allowing things to happen in their own time, rather than trying to control or manipulate them through active intervention.

However, others have argued that the relationship between Heidegger's Gelassenheit and Taoism is more complex, and that Heidegger's understanding of non-action draws on a variety of philosophical and spiritual traditions, including Christianity, Greek philosophy, and Eastern thought.

Overall, while there is some evidence to suggest that Heidegger's Gelassenheit was influenced by Taoism, the precise nature of this influence remains a matter of debate among scholars and philosophers.