Dasein does not fill up a track or stretch ‘of life’ — one…
““Dasein does not fill up a track or stretch ‘of life’ — one which is somehow present-at-hand — with the phases of its momentary actualities. It stretches itself along in such a way that its own being is constituted in advance as a stretching-along. The ‘between’ which relates to birth and death already lies in the being of Dasein … It is by no means the case that Dasein ‘is’ actual in a point of time, and that, apart from this, it is ‘surrounded’ by the non-actuality of its birth and death. Understood existentially, birth is not … something past in the sense of something no longer present-at-hand; and death is just as far from having the kind of being of something … not yet present-at-hand but coming along … Factical Dasein exists as born; and, as born, it is already dying, in the sense of being-towards-death. As long as Dasein factically exists, both the ‘ends’ and their ‘between’ *are*, and they are in the only way possible on the basis of Dasein’s being as *care* … As care, Dasein is the ‘between’.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
DaseIn's existence is defined by its relationship to birth, death, and the ongoing care between them.
In simple terms: Being is about caring through life and death.
Key Takeaway
Embrace care and temporality.
Themes
existentialism
being
temporality
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
Birth and death:1
Death:1
Life:1
Dasein Exists:1
Existentially Birth:0
Dasein Actual:0
Actualities Stretches:0
Actuality Birth:0
When to use this quote
- life planning
- end‑of‑life reflection
- philosophical study
Key Concepts
care
being‑toward‑death
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does caring shape your existence?
- What does "being‑toward‑death" mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Complex language limits accessibility.