Revisiting the Concept of Being: A Comparative Analysis of Heidegger and Eastern Philosophical Thought
Tita Rostitawati, Ferlin Anwar, Aminudin Aminudin
Pena Justisia Media Komunikasi dan Kajian Hukum June 27, 2025 DOI: 10.31941/pj.v24i2.6511 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractHeidegger's critique of Western metaphysics, which he argued had forgotten the question of Being (Seinsfrage), shares key similarities with Eastern non-dualistic traditions such as Vedanta and Taoism. Both Heidegger and these Eastern philosophies reject the objectification of reality and stress the subject's existential engagement in revealing the meaning of Being. Despite arising from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, they converge on emphasizing intuitive and holistic dimensions of existence—Brahman in Vedanta and Dao in Taoism. This comparative analysis suggests that dialogue between these traditions can offer a more transcendent and integrated ontological understanding.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative literature review with philosophical hermeneutic approach Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Existentialism Metaphysics Objectification Meaning existential Perspective graphical |
| Key finding | Heidegger's existential understanding of Being and Eastern non-dualistic thought share a common rejection of reality's objectification and an emphasis on the subject's existential involvement in uncovering the meaning of Being. |
Abstract
This research aims to revisit the concept of Being (exists) through a comparative approach between Martin Heidegger's philosophy and Eastern philosophical thought, particularly the Vedanta and Taoist traditions. Heidegger, in his work Being and Time, criticized Western metaphysics that forgot the question of existence (Seinsfrage) and proposed an existential understanding of Being through Dasein's concept. In contrast, Eastern thought has traditionally emphasized the non-dualistic and intuitive dimensions of existence, as reflected in the concept of Brahman in Vedanta and Dao in Taoism. This study uses the qualitative literature review method with a philosophical hermeneutic approach to examine the ontological and epistemological structures in both traditions. The results of the analysis show that despite coming from different cultural and linguistic contexts, Heidegger and Eastern thought share similarities in criticizing the objectification of reality and emphasizing the subject's existential involvement in uncovering the meaning of Being. These findings open up spaces for dialogue across philosophical traditions and offer an alternative perspective to a more holistic and transcendent ontological understanding