130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Happy Long Weekend! We're open all 3 days! 📚 Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Metaphysics and Nihilism

1 - The Overcoming of Metaphysics 2 - The Essence of Nihilism
Brief Description
The two treatises The Overcoming of Metaphysics (1938/39) and The Essence of Nihilism (1946–1948) do not belong together temporally or formally, but they are brought together in this volume because they both treat a common thesis from the standpoint of different questions – namely, that nihilism... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Metaphysics and Nihilism. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The two treatises The Overcoming of Metaphysics (1938/39) and The Essence of Nihilism (1946–1948) do not belong together temporally or formally, but they are brought together in this volume because they both treat a common thesis from the standpoint of different questions – namely, that nihilism is the essence of metaphysics in relation to the history of being.

The overcoming of metaphysics is, for Heidegger, the decisive historical moment in which metaphysics is experienced as the history of the abandonment by being and overcome at the same time. The abandonment of beings by being reveals itself in the final and most extreme intensification of metaphysics as the “unconditioned predominance of manipulation.” Manipulation means here the all-dominating producibility of beings.

The Essence of Nihilism is linked to the idea of overcoming. This text deals with the attempt to elucidate the essence of nihilism through Nietzsche’s words “God is dead.” The killing of God springs from the will to power as the most extreme form of manipulation. The being of beings is grasped here as the positing of values emanating from the will to power. In this positing of being as value, it becomes clear that being itself remained unthought in metaphysics. Therefore, metaphysics as such is nihilism proper.

These key works by Heidegger, now available in English for the first time, will be of great interest to students and scholars of philosophy and to anyone interested in Heidegger’s thought.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509540051

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Arun Iyer

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 150.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 363g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century and the author of numerous works including Being and Time.

Also by Martin Heidegger

View all
  • Being and Time
    Being and Time is a profound exploration into the nature of being and existence, a monumental work that reshapes the landscape of contemporary philosophy. Originally published in 1927, Martin Heidegger's seminal text lays the groundwork for existential and phenomenological thought, challenging readers to reconsider the fundamental aspects of time, reality, and human existence. Heidegger delves into the concept of 'Dasein',...
    Paperback
    $6400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Metaphysics of German Idealism
    This volume comprises the lecture course that Heidegger gave in 1941 on the metaphysics of German Idealism. The first part of the lecture course contains a preliminary consideration of the distinction between ground and existence. The elucidation of the conceptual history includes a striking confrontation with Kierkegaard’s and Jaspers’ concepts of existence, as well as an elucidation of the concept...
    Paperback
    $3599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Being and Time
    A knowledge of Heidegger's Sein und Zeit is essential for anyone who wishes to understand a great deal of recent continental work in theology as well as philosophy. Yet until this translation first appeared in 1962, this fundamental work of one of the most influential European thinkers of the century remained inaccessible to English readers. In fact, the difficulty of...
    Paperback
    $6199
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Heraclitus
    Heraclitus is the first English translation of Volume 55 of Martin Heidegger’s Gesamtausgabe. This important volume consists of two lecture courses given by Heidegger at the University of Freiburg over the summers of 1943 and 1944 on the thought of Heraclitus. These lectures shed important light on Heidegger’s understanding of Greek thinking, as well as his understanding of Germany, the...
    Paperback
    $6099
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Introduction to Metaphysics
    This new edition of one of Heidegger's most important works features a revised and expanded translators' introduction and an updated translation, as well as the first English versions of Heidegger's draft of a portion of the text and of his later critique of his own lectures. Other new features include an afterword by Petra Jaeger, editor of the German text....
    Paperback
    $4099
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Mindfulness
    Written in 1938/9, Mindfulness (translated from the German Besinnung) is Martin Heidegger's second major being-historical treatise. Here, Heidegger develops some of his key concepts and themes including truth, nothingness, enownment, art, and Be-ing, and discusses the Greeks, Nietzsche, and Hegel at length. In addition to the main text, the book also includes two further important essays, "A Retrospective Look at...
    Paperback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • On the Essence of Language and the Question of Art
    The texts and notes collected in this volume offer unique insight into the development of Heidegger’s thinking on language and art from the late 1930s to the early 1950s—a tumultuous period both for Heidegger personally and for Germany as a whole. Following Germany’s defeat in World War II, Heidegger was banned from teaching at Freiburg University, where he had been...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • The Essence of Truth
    The Essence of Truth is an examination of the most fundamental theme in Heidegger's philosophy: the difference between truth as 'the unhiddenness of beings' and truth as 'the correctness of propositions'. Based on a course of lectures delivered at the University of Freiburg in 1932, the book presents Heidegger's original analysis of Plato's philosophy and represents an important discussion of...
    Paperback
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Concept of Time
    The Concept of Time presents Heidegger's so-called Dilthey review, widely considered the first draft of his celebrated masterpiece, Being and Time. Here, Heidegger reveals his deep commitment to Wilhelm Dilthey and Count Yorck von Wartenburg. He agrees with them that historicity must be at the centre of the new philosophy to come. However, he also argues for an ontological approach...
    Paperback
    $6299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Essence of Human Freedom
    The Essence of Human Freedom is a groundbreaking work that provides a compelling philosophical account of humanity's potential for liberty. It is fundamental for understanding Heidegger's view of Greek philosophy and its relationship to modern philosophy. In no other work by Heidegger do we find as detailed a consideration of Kant's practical philosophy or of Aristotle's Metaphysics as is given...
    Paperback
    $13600
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Metaphysics and Nihilism
    The two treatises The Overcoming of Metaphysics (1938/39) and The Essence of Nihilism (1946–1948) do not belong together temporally or formally, but they are brought together in this volume because they both treat a common thesis from the standpoint of different questions — namely, that nihilism is the essence of metaphysics in relation to the history of being. The overcoming...
    Hardback
    $11999
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

More from Philosophy & Psychology

View all
  • Atomic Habits
    Atomic Habits by James Clear is a transformative guide that demonstrates how tiny, incremental changes in behaviour can fundamentally reshape your life. Rather than urging sweeping transformations, Clear advocates for the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. Whether it’s performing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes earlier, or making a brief, focused phone call, these minuscule adjustments,...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • How Lucky Am I
    New Release
    How Lucky Am I
    The first full book featuring social media sensation Mr. Skelly, with over 5 million global followers, a skeleton who teaches us that life is a gift to be treasured, reminding us how lucky we all are to live in this present moment. For readers of The Book of Gifts and The Little Frog’s Guide to Self Care. In this poignant,...
    Hardback
    $4299
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    12% off
    Lessons on Living
    Bestselling author Nigel Latta's simple psychological toolkit for life's ups and downs. Over thirty years working as a clinical psychologist, Nigel Latta assembled a personal toolkit based on three simple principles. These principles helped him to be more resilient, joyful, and attuned to what matters most. The same principles have helped him through some difficult times as well, such as...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Creative Act
    Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day and then ages out. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed...
    Hardback
    $4400
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
    The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy is a profound exploration of life’s universal lessons, delicately illustrated and rich with narrative depth. This heartfelt story introduces readers to four unlikely friends: a curious boy, a tiny yet thoughtful mole, a wary fox, and a wise horse. Together, they find themselves traversing challenging and sometimes treacherous...
    Hardback
    $4000
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    23% off
    1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
    In the drab and oppressive world of 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell introduces us to Winston Smith, a man haunted by the omnipresent surveillance and control exercised by the Party and its enigmatic leader, Big Brother. Winston works diligently at the Ministry of Truth, where his job is to alter historical records to fit the ever-changing narrative dictated by the...
    Paperback
    $1000
    Usually:
    $1299
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Strangers
    The must-read memoir of the end of a marriage and the start of a personal revolution, based on the iconic Modern Love essay in the New York Times and perfect for fans of Glennon Doyle. "A beautifully written eulogy for the loss of a relationship" — Joyce Carol Oates How do we go on when a loved one betrays us?...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • On Sale
    21% off
    Aroha
    Aroha by Dr Hinemoa Elder is an enlightening exploration of timeless Maori wisdom, intricately woven into a contemporary context. This top-selling non-fiction title from New Zealand in 2021 introduces readers to 52 traditional Maori proverbs, known as whakataukī, each offering a profound lesson for every week of the year. Dr Elder, a respected Maori psychiatrist, delves into these powerful sayings...
    Hardback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Eat Your Ice Cream
    The New York Times bestseller that presents a bold new vision for living well and ageing with purpose from a world-renowned health expert THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a leading doctor and world-renowned health expert, the simple, uplifting and practical guide to cutting through the wellness noise, living well and ageing with purpose. ‘Essential reading for anyone who...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • Godel, Escher, Bach
    Godel, Escher, Bach, by Douglas R. Hofstadter, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that delves into the complex interplay between the works and ideas of three brilliant minds: mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. This interdisciplinary treatise embarks on a journey through a labyrinth of mathematical theorems, artful prints, and intricate compositions, weaving them together...
    Paperback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday
  • The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Tuesday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.