Ereignis and the Mortal

Abstract

The study closes a cycle of six reflections examining the concept of man in philosophy. It interprets Heidegger's concept of man as a mortal being, a concept deliberately clashing with the classing definition of a "reasonable animal." It is based on the interpretation of mortality as an "ability to die" in relation to the lightness (Lichtung) of being, which means to the "Ereignis." Its conclusion suggests that this concept includes in itself as its "decided" form a concept of man as a reasonable animal. It tries to lead the reader to the understanding that the five preceding reflections were nothing but specification of what "mortality" means for Heidegger.