Why Heidegger didn’t like Catholic theology: The case of Romano Guardini

Abstract

Much of the content of the Black Notebooks relates to Heidegger’s irritation with what he saw as a range of misinterpretations and misappropriations of his work. These include those who see Being and Time as derivative of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche as well as those who try to apply Heidegger’s thought to contemporary philosophical issues. He is particularly hostile to Catholic theology, naming Romano Guardini as exemplifying what is wrong in such applications. This chapter explores Heidegger’s antipathy in relation to Guardini’s own theological-philosophical project with the aim of specifying just what Heidegger saw as the essential point at issue.