The first English translation of Heidegger's recently published 1933-34 seminar, with interpretative essays by five leading thinkers and Heidegger scholars.

Nature, History, State: 1933-1934 presents the first complete English-language translation of Heidegger's seminar 'On the Essence and Concepts of Nature, History and State', together with full introductory material and interpretive essays by five leading thinkers and scholars: Robert Bernasconi, Peter Eli Gordon, Marion Heinz, Theodore Kisiel and Slavoj Žižek. The seminar, which was held while Heidegger was serving as National Socialist rector of the University of Freiburg, represents important evidence of the development of Heidegger's political thought. The text consists of ten 'protocols' on the seminar sessions, composed by students and reviewed by Heidegger. The first session's protocol is a rather personal commentary on the atmosphere in the classroom, but the remainder have every appearance of being faithful transcripts of Heidegger's words, in which he raises a variety of fundamental questions about nature, history and the state. The seminar culminates in an attempt to sketch a political philosophy that supports the 'Führer state'. The text is important evidence for anyone considering the tortured question of Heidegger's Nazism and its connection to his philosophy in general.

"This collection ... is an important document in the battle for determining Heidegger’s legacy as either one of the most profound minds of the 20th century, or a charlatan abusing his philosophical credentials to provide intellectual justification for Nazism. With this accessible translation re-published in paperback form, English audiences can read the primary text and wade into this important debate in Heidegger scholarship for themselves ... [T]his publication does a service in filling a vital part of the picture." - Philosophy