Wang Qingjie: Temporality (Zeitlichkeit) and Temporal Configuration (Temporalität) — On Heidegger’ s Theory of Time in Being and Time
2025.03.20
Title
Temporality (Zeitlichkeit) and Temporal Configuration (Temporalität): On Heidegger’ s Theory of Time in Being and Time
Time
Thursday, March 27, 2025, 7:00–9:00 PM
Location
Room 610, Lide Building, Renmin University of China(RUC)
Abstract
Heidegger’ s Being and Time stands as a century-spanning philosophical classic, distinguished by its groundbreaking re-examination of the question of being through the lens of temporality. In this work, Heidegger anchors his ontological-philosophical understanding of time in two interrelated yet distinct core concepts: Zeitlichkeit and Temporalität. Though these terms are etymologically synonymous in German, they carry divergent philosophical significance in Heidegger’ s framework. Over the years, Heideggerian scholarship has struggled to reach consensus on the precise role of Temporalität—particularly its position and function in Heidegger’ s early philosophy of time—leading to inconsistent translations and conceptual confusion. Clarifying this distinction is essential for grasping the essence of Heidegger’ s temporal theory and, by extension, the entirety of Being and Time.
This lecture begins by analyzing Heidegger’ s dual rationale for both connecting and differentiating these concepts. It then synthesizes an examination of Being and Time’ s structural framework with a discussion of Heidegger’ s contemporaneous works, proposing three defining characteristics of Temporalität as the "primordial explication" of time in ontological terms:
1) As the Problematik (problematic inquiry) for reinterrogating the question of being;
2) As the Destruktion (deconstructive process) of the history of ontology;
3) As the Logos (discursive form) of temporal being.
Building on this analysis, the lecture advocates for translating Temporalität in early Heideggerian thought as "temporal configuration" in Chinese. It further explores the concept’ s implications for cross-cultural comparative philosophy and its relevance to contemporary philosophical discourse.
Speaker
Prof. Wang Qingjie, Distinguished Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Macau
Wang Qingjie is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of Macau. He previously taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Oklahoma State University, Montana State University, and Peking University. His research focuses on Heideggerian philosophy, contemporary Continental philosophy, East-West comparative philosophy, Confucian ethics, and Daoist metaphysics. Recent publications include Approaching Being and Self-Subsistent Arising, Moral Emotions and Confucian Exemplary Ethics, Heidegger and the Beginning of Philosophy, Heidegger in China and Japan, Heidegger: Translation, Understanding, and Interpretation, and Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Chinese Tradition. His translations include Introduction to Metaphysics (new edition), Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics, and co-translations of Being and Time. He co-edited the 30-volume Heidegger’ s Collected Works.
Moderator
Prof. Zhang Haojun, School of Philosophy, RUC
Zhang Haojun is a Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at School of Philosophy of RUC, a Wu Yuzhang Young Scholar, and an academic committee member of the Chinese Society for Phenomenology. He serves as co-editor-in-chief of the East Asian Journal of Philosophy. His research centers on classical phenomenology and analytic phenomenology.
Discussant
1. Prof. Zhang Zhiwei, School of Philosophy, RUC
Zhang Zhiwei is a Professor, Ph.D. Supervisor, and Wu Yuzhang Distinguished Chair Professor at RUC. A recipient of the State Council Special Allowance, he chairs the Chinese Society for the History of Foreign Philosophy and serves on the academic committee of the Chinese Society for Phenomenology. His expertise spans the history of Western philosophy, metaphysics, German philosophy, and phenomenology.
2. Chen Xiaowen, Editor-in-Chief, The Commercial Press
Chen Xiaowen, Editor-in-Chief and Senior Editor at The Commercial Press, holds a Ph.D. and specializes in philosophy and law. A renowned scholar in Heideggerian translation and research, he has co-translated works such as On Time and Being, Identity and Difference, and The Concept of Time. He previously served as Secretary-General (2007–2020) of the Chinese Society for Phenomenology and is currently Vice President of the China Translation Association. At The Commercial Press, he oversees major publishing projects including the Chinese Translations of World Academic Classics, Modern Chinese Academic Classics, and Collected Works of Global Thinkers.
Forum Mission Statement
Phenomenology stands as one of the most significant philosophical movements of the 20th century and remains a dominant field in contemporary Chinese philosophical research. It is a core component of academic curricula and research directions for undergraduate, master’ s, and doctoral programs. School of Philosophy of RUC, a leading institution in philosophical education and research, boasts a robust tradition in phenomenological studies and a strong scholarly team. The forum’ s title, Seeking Truth, embodies a dual resonance: it aligns with RUC’ s motto, Seeking Truth from Facts, while echoing phenomenology’ s principle of “Zu den Sachen selbst” (Back to the things themselves). The "Seeking Truth" Phenomenology Forum aims to uphold the academic legacy of the foreign philosophy discipline, consolidate research efforts within the university, cultivate phenomenological scholars, and foster collaboration with domestic and international peers to advance scholarly communities. The forum will host lectures by renowned scholars and thematic academic conferences, including future series on "Analytic Phenomenology," "Naturalized Phenomenology," and "Normativity in Phenomenological Contexts."
Organizers
Research Center for Contemporary Chinese Philosophy, RUC
Institute of Foreign Philosophy, School of Philosophy, RUC
The Philosopher Editorial Office, RUC
Temporality (Zeitlichkeit) and Temporal Configuration (Temporalität): On Heidegger’ s Theory of Time in Being and Time
Time
Thursday, March 27, 2025, 7:00–9:00 PM
Location
Room 610, Lide Building, Renmin University of China(RUC)
Abstract
Heidegger’ s Being and Time stands as a century-spanning philosophical classic, distinguished by its groundbreaking re-examination of the question of being through the lens of temporality. In this work, Heidegger anchors his ontological-philosophical understanding of time in two interrelated yet distinct core concepts: Zeitlichkeit and Temporalität. Though these terms are etymologically synonymous in German, they carry divergent philosophical significance in Heidegger’ s framework. Over the years, Heideggerian scholarship has struggled to reach consensus on the precise role of Temporalität—particularly its position and function in Heidegger’ s early philosophy of time—leading to inconsistent translations and conceptual confusion. Clarifying this distinction is essential for grasping the essence of Heidegger’ s temporal theory and, by extension, the entirety of Being and Time.
This lecture begins by analyzing Heidegger’ s dual rationale for both connecting and differentiating these concepts. It then synthesizes an examination of Being and Time’ s structural framework with a discussion of Heidegger’ s contemporaneous works, proposing three defining characteristics of Temporalität as the "primordial explication" of time in ontological terms:
1) As the Problematik (problematic inquiry) for reinterrogating the question of being;
2) As the Destruktion (deconstructive process) of the history of ontology;
3) As the Logos (discursive form) of temporal being.
Building on this analysis, the lecture advocates for translating Temporalität in early Heideggerian thought as "temporal configuration" in Chinese. It further explores the concept’ s implications for cross-cultural comparative philosophy and its relevance to contemporary philosophical discourse.
Speaker
Prof. Wang Qingjie, Distinguished Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Macau
Wang Qingjie is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of Macau. He previously taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Oklahoma State University, Montana State University, and Peking University. His research focuses on Heideggerian philosophy, contemporary Continental philosophy, East-West comparative philosophy, Confucian ethics, and Daoist metaphysics. Recent publications include Approaching Being and Self-Subsistent Arising, Moral Emotions and Confucian Exemplary Ethics, Heidegger and the Beginning of Philosophy, Heidegger in China and Japan, Heidegger: Translation, Understanding, and Interpretation, and Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Chinese Tradition. His translations include Introduction to Metaphysics (new edition), Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics, and co-translations of Being and Time. He co-edited the 30-volume Heidegger’ s Collected Works.
Moderator
Prof. Zhang Haojun, School of Philosophy, RUC
Zhang Haojun is a Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at School of Philosophy of RUC, a Wu Yuzhang Young Scholar, and an academic committee member of the Chinese Society for Phenomenology. He serves as co-editor-in-chief of the East Asian Journal of Philosophy. His research centers on classical phenomenology and analytic phenomenology.
Discussant
1. Prof. Zhang Zhiwei, School of Philosophy, RUC
Zhang Zhiwei is a Professor, Ph.D. Supervisor, and Wu Yuzhang Distinguished Chair Professor at RUC. A recipient of the State Council Special Allowance, he chairs the Chinese Society for the History of Foreign Philosophy and serves on the academic committee of the Chinese Society for Phenomenology. His expertise spans the history of Western philosophy, metaphysics, German philosophy, and phenomenology.
2. Chen Xiaowen, Editor-in-Chief, The Commercial Press
Chen Xiaowen, Editor-in-Chief and Senior Editor at The Commercial Press, holds a Ph.D. and specializes in philosophy and law. A renowned scholar in Heideggerian translation and research, he has co-translated works such as On Time and Being, Identity and Difference, and The Concept of Time. He previously served as Secretary-General (2007–2020) of the Chinese Society for Phenomenology and is currently Vice President of the China Translation Association. At The Commercial Press, he oversees major publishing projects including the Chinese Translations of World Academic Classics, Modern Chinese Academic Classics, and Collected Works of Global Thinkers.
Forum Mission Statement
Phenomenology stands as one of the most significant philosophical movements of the 20th century and remains a dominant field in contemporary Chinese philosophical research. It is a core component of academic curricula and research directions for undergraduate, master’ s, and doctoral programs. School of Philosophy of RUC, a leading institution in philosophical education and research, boasts a robust tradition in phenomenological studies and a strong scholarly team. The forum’ s title, Seeking Truth, embodies a dual resonance: it aligns with RUC’ s motto, Seeking Truth from Facts, while echoing phenomenology’ s principle of “Zu den Sachen selbst” (Back to the things themselves). The "Seeking Truth" Phenomenology Forum aims to uphold the academic legacy of the foreign philosophy discipline, consolidate research efforts within the university, cultivate phenomenological scholars, and foster collaboration with domestic and international peers to advance scholarly communities. The forum will host lectures by renowned scholars and thematic academic conferences, including future series on "Analytic Phenomenology," "Naturalized Phenomenology," and "Normativity in Phenomenological Contexts."
Organizers
Research Center for Contemporary Chinese Philosophy, RUC
Institute of Foreign Philosophy, School of Philosophy, RUC
The Philosopher Editorial Office, RUC
CONTACT
Add:No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District Beijing, 100872, P.R. China
Tel:86-10-82509597
E-mail:international@ruc.edu.cn