THE TRUTH OF NESCIENCE: CONSIDERING THE EXPRESSION OF PRIMORDIAL TRUTH IN HEIDEGGER’S BEITRÄGE AND ŚAṄKARA’S BRAHMASŪTRABHAṢYA
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Abstract
What if a theory of 'primordial truth' is brought forward that claims to precede conventional theories of truth, and additionally asserts that the conventional understanding of truth is inherently compromised due to the distortions related to the very questioning of truth? This type of truth can be attributed to Heidegger’s presentation in his work Beiträge der Philosophie (vom Ereignis) where he considers what he calls the 'event of truth'. To approach such a primordial truth implies a fundamental problem of articulation which has to circumvent conventional methods of expression. In order to better evaluate Heidegger's approach, this paper will juxtapose it against the approach of the Indian philosopher Śaṅkara. Each approach is concerned with the 'saying' of truth, and each approach is concerned with how to articulate something which emerges prior to articulation, and explicate something which evades conventional understanding. We will here explore the nature of Heidegger's primordial event of truth and the effects that such a concept can induce, against an understanding of Śaṅkara’s concept of 'superimposition' which is practiced in order to remove obstacles to the illumination of true Being. Although these two approaches cannot be reduced to one another, their juxtaposition provides us with an opportunity to reflect on method, language, the nature of understanding, and ultimately, the possible inability of academic efforts to engage in such a project. The question in this study may be posed as follows: should Heidegger’s Beiträge be understood as a (very long) pointless mantra?
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