Translators' ForewordTHE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF PHILOSOPHYSummer Semester 1933Introduction: The Fundamental Question of Philosophy and the Fundamental Happening of Our HistoryMain Part: The Fundamental Question and Metaphysics: Preparation for a Confrontation with HegelChapter One. The Development, Transformation, and Christianization of Traditional MetaphysicsChapter Two. The System of Modern Metaphysics and the First of Its Primary Determining Grounds: The MathematicalChapter Three. Determination by Christianity and the Concept of Mathematical-Methodological Grounding in the Metaphysical Systems of ModernityChapter Four. Hegel: The Completion of Metaphysics as Theo-logicConclusionON THE ESSENCE OF TRUTHWinter Semester 1933-1934Introduction: The Question of Essence as Insidious and UnavoidablePart One. Truth and Freedom: An Interpretation of the Allegory of the Cave in Plato's RepublicChapter One. The Four Stages of the Happening of TruthChapter Two. The Idea of the Good and UnconcealmentChapter Three. The Question of the Essence of UntruthPart Two. An Interpretation of Plato's Theaetetus With Regard to the Question of the Essence of UntruthChapter One. Preliminary Considerations on the Greek Concept of KnowledgeChapter Two. Theaetetus's Answers to the Question of the Essence of Knowledge and their RejectionChapter Three. The Question of the Possibility of Appendix INotes and drafts for the lecture course of Summer Semester 1933Appendix IINotes and drafts for the lecture course of Winter Semester 1933-1934Editor's AfterwordGerman-English Glossary

The two lecture courses collected in the volume entitled Being and Truth were delivered during Heidegger's tenure as the first Nazi rector of the University of Freiburg and thus in his darkest hour as a philosopher. . . When reading Heidegger's political statements, which frame and punctuate his otherwise thought-provoking philosophical analyses . . . what is most striking, ultimately, is Heidegger's utter blindness with respect to the true nature of an odious and destructive worldview and his systematic yet delusional projection of a profound transformation of Europe's destiny and a new dawn into the darkest episode of German history.6/3/11