Peter Hallward: Heidegger’s works on language, and on being-with, did they have any value for you?
Michel Serres: I was so busy with sciences and techniques that it was very difficult to throw myself into an author who refused them wholesale. There are two kinds of philosopher: there are philosophers who shackle you and philosophers who free you. Once you are “in” Hegel it’s very difficult to speak otherwise than as a Hegelian, whilst with Leibniz you are free. Leibniz never gave me much trouble; he is very intuitive, he throws open many doors and closes none. In a certain way, Heidegger is very confining. Once you follow Heidegger’s reasoning you become a Heideggerian.[1]
[1] Peter Hallward and Michel Serres, “The science of relations: an interview”, trans. Alberto Toscano, Angelaki 8:2 (2003) 234-5.