Coping with Finitude: Santayana Reading Heidegger.

SANTAYANA, George, 1863-1952; HEIDEGGER, Martin, 1889-1976; ONTOLOGY; HERMENEUTICS; SPIRIT

The paper, focusing on specific philosophical issues, raises the question of possible similarities between the philosophies of George Santayana and Martin Heidegger. I argue that, despite obvious technical differences between both thinkers, they share in an effort of providing a novel understanding of fulfillment for a newly defined human self. The paper focuses on, among other things, the conception of the self in both philosophies, which marks the departure from the Cartesian Cogito and the subject of will in favor of a hermeneutic self the tendency to ontologize epistemology, and common sources of inspiration in Aristotle. Marginalia from Santayana's copy of Sein und Zeit and his private correspondence are examined as providing insight into his encounter with Heidegger's work. All in all, the paper shares in an effort of establishing a dialogic relation between Santayana and continental philosophy to provide a novel interpretive context for his work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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