The Glance Of The Eye: Heidegger, Aristotle, And The Ends Of Theory (suny Series In Contemporary Continental Philosophy)

Argues that Heidegger's early reading of Aristotle provides him with a critical resource for addressing the problematic domination of theoretical knowledge in Western civilization.William McNeill explores the phenomenon of the Augenblick, or “glance of the eye,” in Heidegger's thought, and in particular its relation to the primacy of seeing and of theoretical apprehending (theoria) both in Aristotle and in the philosophical and scientific tradition of Western thought. McNeill argues that Heidegger's early reading of Aristotle, which identifies the experience of the Augenblick at the heart of ethical and practical knowledge (phronesis), proves to be a decisive encounter for Heidegger's subsequent understanding and critique of the history of philosophy, science, and technology. It provides him with a critical resource for addressing the problematic domination of theoretical knowledge in Western civilization. Such knowledge, the author shows, always remains in a peculiar tension (itself historically determined and changing) with ethical or “protoethical” knowledge, which is bound to the finite, “ecstatic” temporality of the lived and living moment, and inevitably exposed to the presence of the sensuous.William McNeill is Associate Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University. The Glance of The Eye 2 CONTENTS 7 PREFACE 9 ABBREVIATIONS OF WORKS CITED 13 Works by Aristotle 13 Works by Gadamer 13 Works by Heidegger 13 A Note On Terminology 18 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: OF AN ANCIENT DESIRE 19 PART I THEORIA AND PHILOSOPHY: HEIDEGGER AND ARISTOTLE 32 Chapter 2 Vision in Theory and Praxis: Heidegger's Reading of Aristotle (1924) 33 The End of Desire 40 The Complication of Praxis 45 The Glance of The Eye 55 Athanatizein 63 Chapter 3 The Genesis of Theory: Being and Time (1927) 71 The Natural Genesis of Theory 73 Dispersions of Vision: Theory, Praxis, Techne 79 The Existential Genesis of Theory 88 The Thematizing Projection of Things 97 Modification 101 Chapter 4 Originary Praxis: The Trace of Phronesis in Being and Time 109 Originary Praxis and Authenticity 115 Seeing Oneself 123 The Time of The Augenblick 130 Retrospect On the 1922 Treatise On Aristotle 139 Augenblick and World 147 Chapter 5 Theory and Praxis at The University: The Rectoral Address (1933) 153 PART II THE TRANSFORMATION OF THEORIA 174 Chapter 6 Technovision: Modern Science and Technology 175 The Age of The World Picture 180 The Contemplation of The Real 187 Grasping Things 192 Making Progress: The Future of Science 195 The Transformation of Presence: From Science to Technology 201 The Collapse of Causality 206 The End of Technology 216 The Turning of Presence at The End of Technology 224 PART III THE THRESHOLD OF REPRESENTATION: THE AUGENBLICK IN HEIDEGGER'S READING OF NIETZSCHE 233 Chapter 7 Vision and the Enigma 234 PART IV ORIGINARY THEORIA 252 Chapter 8 In the Presence of the Sensible: Vision and Ecstasis 253 Theoria in Retrospect: Philosophy, Science, and Curiosity 254 Theoria and Divinity: The Philosophical Turn 264 The Theoria of The Ancients 275 "to Things Their Look ...": The Origin of The Work of Art 291 The Look of The Other 315 Absence of the Body 332 Visions of Stillness 343 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 352 INDEX OF NAMES 359 A 359 B 359 C 359 D 359 E 359 F 359 G 359 H 359 I 360 J 360 K 360 L 360 M 360 N 360 O 360 P 360 R 360 S 360 T 361 V 361 W 361 INDEX OF SUBJECTS 362 A 362 B 364 C 365 D 366 E 368 F 370 G 370 H 371 I 371 K 371 L 372 M 372 N 373 O 374 P 374 R 376 S 376 T 378 U 381 V 382 W 382 "William McNeill explores the phenomenon of the Augenblick, or "glance of the eye," in Heidegger's thought, and in particular its relation to the primacy of seeing and of theoretical apprehending (theoria) both in Aristotle and in the philosophical and scientific tradition of Western thought. McNeill argues that Heidegger's early reading of Aristotle, which identifies the experience of the Augenblick at the heart of ethical and practical knowledge (phronesis), proves to be a decisive encounter for Heidegger's subsequent understanding and critique of the history of philosophy, science, and technology. It provides him with a critical resource for addressing the problematic domination of theoretical knowledge in Western civilization. Such knowledge, the author shows, always remains in a peculiar tension (itself historically determined and changing) with ethical or "protoethical" knowledge, which is bound to the finite, "ecstatic" temporality of the lived and living moment, and inevitably exposed to the presence of the sensuous."--Jacket William Mcneill. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 341-347) And Indexes.