From: Jdbarrett1-AT-aol.com
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 14:31:04 EDT
Subject: Re: truth




In Dr. Eldred’s most recent post, he writes to the effect that the very ground
or possibility of _veritas_ as _adaequatio_ or _homoiosis_ is what was veiled
to all of metaphysical thinking.  However, does it not seem, as Heidegger
points out, that the Medievals noticed something tacit in the notion of truth
as _adaequatio_? Rather than investigating this hidden ground through the kind
of questioning and critique which Heidegger proposes, however, they, rooted in
the Christian theological tradition, posited God as the inner possibility of
truth as correctness/accordance (_Richtigkeit_).  Then, having realized the
epistemological problems posed by this kind of redefinition, later thinkers
replaced this theological formulation with one that has its ground, as H.
writes, in a worldly reason (_Weltvernunft_), thereby dissolving the problem
of discovering what makes truth as _adaequatio_ possible (supposedly because
with this world order things are related to one another in an immediately
intelligible way).  Heidegger’s claim is that this reformulation really didn’t
approach the problem at all, but only assumed more forcefully that the essence
of truth was correctness.  I don't understand the _Weltvernunft_
reformulation, but I get the picture.  So it appears that the metaphysical
tration has always had an inkling that something was lurking undiscussed
within the notion of truth, but were not willing to or were unable to question
it.  

I find it somewhat difficult to understand Heidegger’s rethinking of the
notion of truth in terms of _aletheia_  or unconcealment (or as I have seen in
Dr. Eldred’s post "unencrypteness"), mainly because this ancient term
signifies both what comes to presence and is manifest _and_ that which recedes
into concealment and that which yet lies concealed.  The difficulty for me
arises in trying to keep in mind both what _is_  and what _is not_ or is _not
yet_. I also find it hard to reconcile this broader and deeper notion of truth
with a way in which it can find some practical currency in the way we speak
about what is true.  For, with Heidegger's notion, it appears to me that truth
is rather all encompassing. 

Also, he essence (_Wesen_) of truth, here, as _aletheia_ , is a verb, or the
way in which truth whiles and wends its way through the world rather than the
fixed "whatness" or quiddity of something, as with Aristotle.  Does this seem
accurate?  Is Heidegger rendering _Wesen_ as "presencing" or "coming to
presence"?  Heidegger seems to think that essence was a verb which has, over
time, been hardened into a noun.  By thinking "essence" in terms of
"presencing" he is, I guess, restoring to it its lost temporality.  

I hope I have not erred to much in this little and inadequate summary, and I
would appreciate any criticisms or directives if I have.

Thanks,

jason       


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