An Interview with Dr. Taylor Carman
In a recent video on my YouTube channel, I have the great privilege to sit down and talk with Dr Taylor Carman about the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. While uploading the full transcript of the 1+ hour long interview would be difficult, with the help of AI (something Heidegger himself may have had something to say about), I have generated a brief summary of the conversation with Dr. Taylor Carman.
Joshua Yen: Hello and welcome to this video. Today, we have the great privilege to welcome Dr. Taylor Carman onto the channel to talk about Heidegger. Dr. Carman is a professor of philosophy at Barnard College of Columbia University and specializes in continental philosophy, with specific reference to Heidegger. I really enjoyed reading his works during my course on Heidegger, so I thought it would be wonderful if he could join us and share his insights. Welcome, Dr. Carman.
Dr. Taylor Carman: Thank you, Joshua. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m excited to dive into these fascinating ideas and explore why Heidegger’s philosophy continues to resonate today.
Joshua Yen: To begin, for those who might not be familiar, could you give a brief overview of Martin Heidegger and why his work has been so influential?
Dr. Taylor Carman: Of course. Heidegger is one of the most significant philosophers of the 20th century. His seminal work, Being and Time, published in 1927, addresses fundamental questions about existence, time, and what it means to be. Heidegger challenges traditional metaphysics, which he argues has been too focused on categorizing and analyzing entities, without addressing the underlying question of Being itself. By reorienting philosophy to this foundational question, Heidegger opens up new ways of thinking about our place in the world. His ideas have influenced not only philosophy but also fields like literature, art, theology, and even architecture, because they encourage us to rethink how we relate to the world and to each other.
Joshua Yen: Heidegger’s focus on Being certainly seems profound. How would you explain that concept to someone encountering it for the first time?
Dr. Taylor Carman: That’s a great question. Heidegger differentiates between entities—the things that exist—and the act or state of existing itself, which he calls Being. He argues that philosophy has historically been preoccupied with the “what” of things—what they are made of, their properties, their causes—without considering the deeper question of “what” they are. Heidegger believes this question of Being is foundational because it underpins all our experiences and understanding of the world. In Being and Time, he explores this question through the lens of human existence, or what he calls Dasein.
Joshua Yen: Could you elaborate more on Dasein and its pivotal role in Heidegger’s philosophy?
Dr. Taylor Carman: Certainly. Dasein is Heidegger’s term for the kind of being that we, as humans, embody. It’s a German word that literally means “being there,” but Heidegger uses it to capture our unique way of existing in the world. Unlike inanimate objects or even animals, humans have a self-reflective relationship with their own existence. We’re not just “in” the world, but we’re always interpreting and making sense of our surroundings, our relationships, and ourselves. Heidegger describes Dasein as “being-in-the-world,” emphasizing that we’re never separate from the world we inhabit. Our activities, relationships, and choices are all part of how we exist, and this interconnectedness is what gives our lives meaning.
Joshua Yen: That interconnectedness is fascinating. One of the terms Heidegger is known for is “authenticity.” How does this idea connect to Dasein and our way of being?
Dr. Taylor Carman: Heidegger’s concept of authenticity is deeply tied to Dasein. It’s about living in a way that is true to one’s own existence rather than being swept up in the expectations and conventions of society. He uses the term “the They” to describe the anonymous, collective norms that often dictate how we live and think. Inauthenticity, then, is when Dasein conforms to “the They,” losing sight of its own unique potential. Authenticity, on the other hand, involves confronting the reality of one’s mortality—what Heidegger calls “being-toward-death”—and making choices that reflect an honest engagement with life’s finite nature. It’s not about rejecting social norms outright but about reclaiming a sense of individuality and responsibility within the world.
Joshua Yen: Speaking of mortality, how does “being-toward-death” shape Heidegger’s understanding of authenticity and existence?
Dr. Taylor Carman: “Being-toward-death” is one of Heidegger’s most striking concepts. He argues that our awareness of death—not as an abstract possibility but as a certain and personal reality—profoundly shapes how we live. When we face the inevitability of our mortality, we’re forced to confront what truly matters and to take ownership of our lives. This isn’t about morbid preoccupation but about clarity and focus. For Heidegger, death serves as a horizon that gives meaning to life by reminding us of its finite nature. Authentic existence involves embracing this finitude and making choices that are genuinely our own, rather than simply following the paths laid out by “the They.”
Joshua Yen: That perspective really challenges us to think differently about life and meaning. For someone new to Heidegger, his ideas can seem quite dense. Where would you recommend they start?
Dr. Taylor Carman: That’s a common challenge. Being and Time is Heidegger’s magnum opus, but it’s also notoriously difficult to read. I usually recommend starting with secondary literature to get a sense of his main ideas. Hubert Dreyfus’s Being-in-the-World is an excellent commentary on Being and Time. It breaks down Heidegger’s concepts in a way that’s both accessible and rigorous. Another great entry point is Heidegger’s essay “The Question Concerning Technology,” which explores how technology shapes our understanding of the world. It’s more focused and offers a glimpse into his broader philosophical concerns.
Joshua Yen: Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Dr. Carman. This has been an incredibly enlightening discussion, and I’m sure our audience will gain a lot from it.
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Evidently, this is a very short summary of the topic. Therefore, I would whole-heartedly suggest that you go check out our full interview on my YouTube channel Philosophy for All.
Alternatively, you can check it out on our podcast:
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