Heidegger’s Concept of Poetry

Abstract

Heidegger does not determine poetry from the perspective of traditional poetics or as a style of literature, but indicates poetry in a formal sense and rather from the side of thinking, as a ‘saying in the way of a showing revealing’. As such, poetry is concerned with ontology and truth. Heidegger seeks to find a determination of poetry in and from poetry itself and consequently gives the floor to the poet. In view of this task, this poet must be a poet who knows and poetizes what poetry itself is. This poet is Friedrich Hölderlin, according to Heidegger.

I talk like a fool

Hölderlin, Homecoming