Metaphysics & Oppression Heidegger

In this compelling work, John McCumber unfolds a history of Western metaphysics that is also a history of the legitimation of oppression. That is, until Heidegger's thought opened doors to challenge domination encoded in structures and institutions -- such as slavery, colonialism, and marriage -- that in the past have given order to the Western world. But Heidegger himself did not recognize the destabilizing implications of his philosophy. McCumber brings this challenge to light by contrasting Heidegger's thought with the inscription of domination present in the very nature of Being as it is conceived by Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hobbes, and Locke. The result is a unique and creative explication of Western philosophy that confronts the difficult and important task of decoding Heidegger's political alignment and indicates possibilities for breaking Western traditions of domination, exploitation, and oppression.

In this stunning philosophical accomplishment, McCumber (Northwestern Univ. and author of Poetic Interaction, 1989, and The Company of Words, 1993) sheds important new light on the history of substance metaphysics and Heidegger's challenge to metaphysical thinking. He carefully analyzes use of the concept of ousia in Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, and Hume. He finds in Aristotle three defining aspects of ousia: 1) everything occurs only within a boundary; 2) through disposition, everything is hierarchically arranged, and 3) through active initiative, form imposes itself on matter. He shows how the metaphysical concept of ousia, by defining the way things are, justifies as rational such social structures as slavery, colonialism, and male domination of women. In each case, rational form imposes itself on irrational matter. Historically, this has offered a conceptual rationale for oppression, but the analysis of Heidegger offers a positive alternative. Heidegger blurs ousia with metaphysics of presence; his thinking breaks through boundaries, does not impose a top--down hierarchy on nature and society, and does not relegate some things or people to the category of matter. Thus, significantly, Heidegger's critique of substance metaphysics offers a way beyond oppressive thinking. Well--documented, brilliant, definitely a major contribution to philosophy! Upper--division undergraduates and above.R. E. Palmer, emeritus, MacMurray College, 2000apr CHOICE. Indiana University Press Indiana University Press

"In this stunning philosophical accomplishment, McCumber sheds important new light on the history of substance metaphysics and Heidegger's challenge to metaphysical thinking.... Well-documented, brilliant, definitely a major contribution to philosophy!" --Choice

In this compelling work, John McCumber unfolds a history of Western metaphysics that is also a history of the legitimation of oppression. That is, until Heidegger. But Heidegger himself did not see how his conception of metaphysics opened doors to challenge the domination encoded in structures and institutions--such as slavery, colonialism, and marriage--that in the past have given order to the Western world.

John McCumber is Professor of German at Northwestern University. He is author of Poetic Interaction: Language, Freedom, Reason and The Company of Words: Hegel, Language, and Systematic Philosophy.

Proem

Introduction: Two Heideggers and Their Challenge

Part 1: The Codification and Consolidation of Ousia (Aristotle and Aquinas)

1. Aristotle's Concept of Ousia

2. Ousia as Parameter in Aristotle

3. The Docility of Matter in Thomas Aquinas

4. Two Ancient Engines of Oppression

Appendix to Part 1: Plato and Prehistory

Part 2: The Modern Eviction of Ousia (Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Hume)

Introduction to Part 2

5. The Cartesian Relocation of Ousia

6. Ousia and Sovereignty in Hobbes

7. Ousia and Property Rights in Locke

8. The Triumph of the Individual in Hume

9. Critical Accounts of Oppression in Mudimbe, Douglass, de Beauvoir

Appendix to Part 2: Ousiodic Structures in Spinoza and Leibniz

Part 3: Heidegger's Challenge to Ousia

10. Heidegger's Presentation of Diakena in Being and Time

11. Diakena and Thing in the Later Heidegger

12. Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index