• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.147
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• pp.77-116
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• 2018

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the late Heidegger's thought through commonality and differences with mystical thought. Heidegger embraces poetic and mystical elements in the process of overcoming traditional metaphysics and cognitive discourse and for exploring new meaning of Being. This study of mystical elements in his thought is important to present the uniqueness of the Heidegger's philosophy. This paper will not deal with mystical experiences or religious meanings, but with philosophical mysticism that reveals the fundamental connection between human and Being through thinking of Being itself. Here in connection with traditional mysticism the following topics will be discussed as mystical elements in the later Heidegger's thought: the Abyss of Being(Ab-grund), which go beyond conceptual reasoning and representational thinking(principle of ground); Lighting of Being(Lichtung), in which human and all Beings can be opened, and the Letting-be(Gelassenheit), which is gained not by any human accomplishment.