Heidegger Quote by John Gardner
““Heidegger’s parlamblings on ‘Nothing’ and ‘Not’ and ‘the Nothing that Nothings’ were the last supposedly respectable gasp of classical philosophy.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Poetics of Philosophy, John Gardner, 1995
Gardner critiques Heidegger’s abstract talk of “nothing” as a final, feeble attempt to preserve classical philosophy’s relevance.
In simple terms: Heidegger’s talk of nothing is seen as a weak, last‑ditch effort to keep old philosophy alive.
Recognize when philosophical jargon obscures rather than clarifies.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- literary criticism
- philosophical education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language limit philosophical thought?
- Can “nothing” be meaningfully discussed?
The argument may overlook the genuine insights Heidegger offers about being.