Spectulate on the difference between the definition of death given by heidegger in Being and Time -` Death is the possibility of the absolute impossibilty by dassein`(294) - and the deffinition developed by Derrida in Aporias -` Death is the name of impos

THE PHILOSOPHY OF DEATH BY DERRIDA AND HEIDEGGER

The purpose of this is to explore on the concept of death based on the perspective on the two philosophers- Jacques Derrida and Martin Heidegger . Basically , Heidegger (1962 ) states that Death is the possibility of the absolute impossibility of Dassein (294 . Meanwhile Derrida (1993 ) claims that Death is the name of impossible simultaneity and of an impossibility that we know simultaneously , at which we await each other , at the same time (65 . And so , one can see here that there is a significant difference

between the definition of death provided by the two philosophers . This will give light to the contradicting philosophy of death

Heidegger 's Concept of Death

The role of the Dasein on Heidegger 's point of view on death is very critical . According to Kemerling (2001 , the Dasein is not simply a synonym for consciousness ' but it indicates the fact that human beings - and only human beings - truly exist , in the fullest sense , only when being-there for-themselves . Indeed , human beings truly exist but the real question is our Dasein or being-there . More importantly Dasein is subject to a systematic , radical uncertainty . This uncertainty on Dasein is rooted on the constant concern for our death Specifically , the Dasein is shaped by death since the concern for annihilation is an ever-present feature of the human experience . As such , it is said that death is the key to life

Furthermore , death is perceived to be a peculiar possibility of the Dasein 's Being . As such death should not be something outside of Daisen since it is an integral part of the Daisen . In other words , Death is Dasein 's ownmost , non-relational and uttermost possibility . In addition to these characteristics of death is aspect of death as certain and indefinite (Cavalier , 2007

Derrida 's Concept of Death

The most vital question utilized in Derrida 's analysis of death in Aporias is the possibility of his own death . In his own words , Is my death possible ' This question poses various complications especially on the phrase my death . In fact , these words are absolutely irreplaceable and singular . As such , it implies that no one can die for me in the sense of definitively taking away or exempting me from my death . This is further complicated by the difficulty of knowing what one is talking about when speaking about death . And no one can really know the meaning of this word or what it is referring to (Calarco 2003

Moreover , the philosophy of Jacques Derrida implies the concept of death as an aporetic possibility . In other words , there is an aporetic experience of death . More specifically , this is interpreted as the experience of death as a limit that cannot but nevertheless must be crossed (Thomson , 1999

Heidegger vs . Derrida on Death

To interpret Heidegger 's philosophy on death , it is the realization of the annihilation of an individual on earth . However , even if death is realized , it is not really experienced by the person...