The aim of this paper is to clarify Heidegger’s concept of finitude (Endlichkeit) from the idea of boredom(Langeweile) as the fundamental mood. Finitude and boredom were not given attention in previous studies on Heidegger. Finitude has been replace...
The aim of this paper is to clarify Heidegger’s concept of finitude (Endlichkeit) from the idea of boredom(Langeweile) as the fundamental mood. Finitude and boredom were not given attention in previous studies on Heidegger. Finitude has been replaced by studies on temporality, and boredom has been covered by anxiety(Angst). However, in order to understand the concept of temporality, finitude should be explained first. Also, it should be explained that boredom reveals the attunement (Befindlichkeit) of Dasein as much as anxiety.
Traditionally, finitude has been replaced by infinitude. It is because the eternal essence has been proposed as the grounds for the temporal beings. The idea of infinitude, which is presented as the being of beings, can be abstracted from the finite. Nevertheless, the idea does not explain why the finite occurs from the infinite. Infinite essence is another being, not Being. Heidegger, therefore, argues that the Being was forgotten and ignored in the history of metaphysics. He says that Being can be recovered by thinking about the ontological difference(ontologische Differenz) between Being and beings. Being isn’t beings. Being is to reveal itself in the way of denying beings. Being is revealed in a finite way on the border with beings. Thus Heidegger explicates the concept of finitude without helping of the concept of infinitude because of his ontological thinking about Being.
In the ‘mood’(Stimmung), we experience Being which conceals and reveals itself in the way of denying beings. The fundamental moods of anxiety and boredom disclose the attunement of Dasein. The moods expose the world as nothing(Nichts). Each of the moods is exposed depending on ‘how’ Dasein is related with the world, which is 'nothing.' If Dasein takes on ‘thrownness’(Geworfenheit), it is attuned to anxiety. If Dasein does not take on it, Dasein is attuned to boredom. The fundamental mood of boredom is a state in which Dasein is not related with the world exposed as nothing. But what boredom tells us is to take on the facticity(Faktizität). And taking on facticity means existentiality(Existenzialität) because ‘the there(Da)’ is consist of three constituents―attunement(Befindlichkeit), understanding (Verstehen) and discourse(Rede). Therefore boredom enables Dasein to exist authentically like anxiety.
The concept of Heidegger’s finitude is that Dasein discloses a world and then resides in it. In order for Dasein to disclose a world, the already interpreted world should be nihilated. The nihilated world reveals the attunement of Dasein, then, first of all, gives Dasein the facticity. Anxiety is a mood taking on the facticity, and boredom is a mood not taking on it. If finitude is elucidated from the mood that does not take on even the facticity, it will become more meaningful.