The puzzle of how Alain Badiou and Gilles Deleuze could have been influenced by Heidegger's concept of "Ereignis," given that "Contributions to Philosophy (Of the Event)" was composed privately between 1936 and 1938 and not published until 1989, can be addressed by considering several factors:
1. **Indirect Influence and Interpretation**:
- **Heidegger’s Broader Influence**: Heidegger’s overall philosophy and ideas on Being and time were widely known and influential well before the publication of "Contributions to Philosophy." Concepts like "Being and Time" (1927) and the idea of "being-in-the-world" were already part of the philosophical discourse.
- **Secondary Sources and Commentary**: Scholars and philosophers often discuss and interpret Heidegger’s unpublished works and ideas through lectures, private communications, and secondary sources. It's possible that the core ideas of "Ereignis" were circulated and discussed in academic circles before the official publication.
2. **Heidegger’s Published Works and Lectures**:
- **Later Works and Lectures**: Heidegger's later works, such as "The Question Concerning Technology" and "The Origin of the Work of Art," also touch upon themes related to "Ereignis," such as revealing, concealing, and the nature of Being. These works were published and could have indirectly influenced Badiou and Deleuze.
- **Philosophical Context**: The broader philosophical context of existentialism, phenomenology, and post-structuralism, which both Badiou and Deleuze were part of, was deeply engaged with Heidegger’s ideas. Discussions and interpretations of Heidegger's unpublished ideas were likely part of this intellectual milieu.
3. **Conceptual Resonances**:
- **Parallel Developments**: Badiou and Deleuze might have developed concepts similar to "Ereignis" independently or through other influences. The idea of the event as a fundamental rupture or transformation is not unique to Heidegger and can be found in various philosophical traditions.
- **Philosophical Synergies**: There are synergies between Heidegger’s focus on the event of appropriation and Badiou's and Deleuze’s ideas on events and becoming. These synergies could arise from a shared engagement with the problem of change, being, and transformation in the 20th-century philosophical landscape.
4. **Academic Dissemination**:
- **Private Discussions and Academic Networks**: Philosophers often share unpublished ideas through private discussions, conferences, and correspondence. Badiou and Deleuze could have been exposed to the concept of "Ereignis" through such informal channels.
In summary, while Heidegger’s "Contributions to Philosophy (Of the Event)" was not publicly available until 1989, Badiou and Deleuze could have been influenced by Heidegger’s broader philosophical ideas and the intellectual environment of their time. The dissemination of Heidegger’s unpublished ideas through secondary sources, lectures, and academic networks likely contributed to their awareness and incorporation of similar themes in their own work. Additionally, the conceptual resonances between their philosophies and Heidegger's ideas suggest parallel developments within the broader context of 20th-century thought.
