>Oddly, on p. 18 of "Studies in the Way of Words", that transcribe his 1967 Harvard conferences, Grice says: Heidegger is the greatest living philosopher.> Obviously Grice was unaware of Popper's continued existence (despite occasional health problems) in 1967. Dnl Ldn On Friday, 28 March 2014, 9:34, "Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx" <Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx> wrote: In a message dated 3/28/2014 5:14:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, palmaadriano@xxxxxxxxx writes: I presume that it must be thought that he was important as a philosopher. It is this assumption that I am skeptical of. Oddly, on p. 18 of "Studies in the Way of Words", that transcribe his 1967 Harvard conferences, Grice says: Heidegger is the greatest living philosopher. So, we indeed have, to use Omar K.'s words, an 'assumption' here: to the effect that Heidegger was an important philosopher, or in Grice's words, "the greatest living philosopher". I'm not so far sceptical about the assumption, and am interested in the fact that the assumption took different verbal versions along the years. Heidegger seems to have cast a spell on many. His locutions and creed in general influenced so many -- and so it may do indeed to approach the assumption critically. Or not. One good start is McEvoy's commentary (on remarks by P. Enns) to the effect that Heidegger's views of language are important and motivational. Or not. McEvoy: "Nothing presented so far indicates how Heidegger offers an account of human language that goes beyond grandstanding assertions of a question-begging type: small wonder he was against science as measured against its standards his assertions might seem little more than metaphysics of the more empty kind. I should note however that a reputable figure like Bryan Magee does take Heidegger and his importance seriously, so perhaps there is something in it." Another would be to revise or revisit what Oxford-educated Magee said about this. Or not. Indeed, as Walter O. notes, it all seemed to have started, Oxford-wise, when G. Ryle (who'd later become Professor of Metaphysical Philosophy there) cared to review Heidegger's "Being and Time" (in the vernacular!) for "Mind", of all places! Cheers, Speranza ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html