Heidegger and the enigma of defining human essence

This is a publisher’s version of an article published in Indian Philosophical Quarterly 2000 published by Department of Philosophy, University of Poona. This version is reproduced with permission from Department of Philosophy, University of Poona.This paper analyses Heidegger’s departure from the Cartesian metaphysical tradition. It explores the existential analysis of Dasein as a social being whose existence relies on the world and being-with rather than a self-dependent and a trans-historical self-substance