10/30 Martin Heidegger, “On the Essence of Truth”

Theme: Can we redefine truth in a way that avoids both objectivity and relativism?

1. What is the basic idea behind the traditional conception of truth: Truth as the correspondence of the intellect or statemtent to the thing? How does Heidegger argue that there is a deeper notion of truth, i.e., the openness (or manifestation) of beings?

2. After stating that the essence of truth is freedom, Heidegger considers the objection that this definition of truth abandons truth to the whims of human caprice. How does Heidegger attempt to show that this definition of truth does not entail relativism?

3. According to Heidegger, how is it that through engaging with beings and letting beings “be the beings that they are,” one takes the standard from the beings themselves?