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Michel Serres: “There are two kinds of philosopher: there are philosophers who shackle you and philosophers who free you”

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.

 

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