Heidegger and the thinking of place

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The concept of place, or topos, is central to Martin Heidegger's philosophy, evident in his connection to his hut in Todtnauberg and in his use of topological language. Jeff Malpas argues that Heidegger's work exemplifies "philosophical topology." In his examination of Heidegger's thought, Malpas explores its topological dimensions and the broader significance of place in philosophy. This approach not only reinterprets Heidegger but also sheds light on other influential thinkers such as Kant, Aristotle, Gadamer, Davidson, Benjamin, Arendt, and Camus. Expanding on themes from his earlier work, Malpas addresses the importance of place in philosophical inquiry, the topological nature of the transcendental, and the intersection of Heideggerian topology with Davidsonian triangulation. He discusses mortality's role in human existence, the impact of materiality in art, the meaning of nostalgia, and how philosophy originates in wonder. Ultimately, Malpas posits that philosophy begins in wonder and is rooted in place, asserting that the essence of questioning and thinking resides in this foundational topos.