Single Idea 15578

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 2. Understanding]

Full Idea

Propositions are not a good clue to the essence of understanding, because we must already understand things before we formulate propositions about them.

Gist of Idea

Propositions don't provide understanding, because the understanding must come first

Source

report of Martin Heidegger (Being and Time [1927], I.5.31) by Richard Polt - Heidegger: an introduction 3.§31-3

Book Reference

Polt,Richard: 'Heidegger: an introduction' [Routledge 2003], p.68


A Reaction

I like this, because I think the most important aspects of our thought and understanding are entirely non-verbal - even in cases where they seem to be highly specific and verbal. We don't understand ourselves at all!