Journal Entries
11th September 2001
Posted Sep 11, 2001
This day will unfortunately go down in history. I just want to record the deep shock and horror that I'm sure everyone in h2g2 shares, and I hope against hope that no Researchers were among the victims or their families.
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Latest reply: Sep 11, 2001
11th September 2001
Posted Sep 11, 2001
This day will unfortunately go down in history. I just want to record the deep shock and horror that I'm sure everyone in h2g2 feels, and I hope against hope that no Researchers were among the victims or their families.
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Sep 11, 2001
Heidegger
Posted Sep 4, 2001
The Fundamental Question
For Heidegger (1898-1976) - inspirer of existentialism, which he wasn't that pleased about (compare Marx - 'if these are Marxists then I'm not a Marxist') and of the Postmodernists (which he wouldn't have liked at all) the Fundamental Question is
'why is there anything rather than nothing?'
which he referred to as The Question of the Meaning of Being. This became his life's project - to work on what he described as philosophy's 'forgotten question' in the sense of exploring the question and finding a path towards thinking it - not just about it. His aim was to underline the fundamental importance of the question, which he felt was undiminished by the lack of a straightforward propositional (ie in words) answer.
Heidegger is not for beginners, but you could try George Steiner's Modern Masters book - not much more misleading than most - or On Time and Being to start with. His masterwork is Being and Time.
Wittgenstein, (1889-1951), on the other hand, regarded all questions that could never be answered as pseudo-questions, that is, as not being questions at all.
Me? I'm just zis guy, you know? 
Grime 
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Sep 4, 2001
Heidegger
Posted Sep 4, 2001
The Fundamental Question
For Heidegger (1898-1976) - inspirer of existentialism, which he wasn't that pleased about (compare Marx - 'if these are Marxists then I'm not a Marxist') and of the Postmodernists (which he wouldn't have liked at all) the Fundamental Question is
'why is there anything rather than nothing?'
which he referred to as The Question of the Meaning of Being. This became his life's project - to work on what he described as philosophy's 'forgotten question' in the sense of exploring the question and finding a path towards thinking it - not just about it. His aim was to underline the fundamental importance of the question, which he felt was undiminished by the lack of a propositional (ie in words) answer.
Heidegger is not for beginners, but you could try George Steiner's Modern Masters book - not much more misleading than most - or On Time and Being to start with. His masterwork is Being and Time.
Wittgenstein, (1889-1951), on the other hand, regarded all questions that couldn't be answered as pseudo-questions.
I thought of writing an Entry on this, but
(a) I can't be bothered to undertake the task of doing it properly, with real depth of thought, and
(b) There's too much tedium, confusion and opinionating at length (instead of thinking a bit harder than usual), in that part of the Guide already. Who needs more? So I'll keep this short in case anyone reads it.
Grime
.
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Latest reply: Sep 4, 2001
The Ultimate Question Again
Posted Sep 3, 2001
Dear Wayfarer
My previous diary entry on this, in the tradition of the original Hitch-Hiker's Guide
, was almost entirely inaccurate.
I think the question I picked out is better than the real ultimate/final question, though, as it's probably the most important question in life. So I'm not - or not yet - going to tell you what the real final question was
You can always find out for yourself, anyway Or make it up 
Grime
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Latest reply: Sep 3, 2001
Grimethorpe2k1
Researcher U182309
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