Overcoming Metaphysics

Heidegger believed that Plato, with his theory of Ideas and by turning away from reality to truth, laid a foundation that affected the whole history of metaphysics. Separating the identifying agent and the identified thing continued in philosophy after Plato, and reached its zenith in Descartes’ philosophy. The subjectivity that resulted from such a distinction completely dominated man and deprived him from his status, culminating in the emergence of science and technology and bringing about homelessness for the modern man. Heidegger held that the way out from the domination of subjectivity was a return to the views of pre-Socratic philosophers, regarding a question about existence as a priority in his philosophical system. In Heidegger’s view, the only being that can put forward a question about existence is “Dasein” that is afloat in Being and can understand its meaning through its being-in-the-world. Heidegger’s ststen is such that encapsulates Islamic Philosophy as well. Thus, before any comparison and contrast between these two philosophies, one must pay enough attention to Heidegger’s basic criticisms on metaphysics so that one may be immune from any mistake on similarities and distinctions that exist between these two.