A Philosophical Reflection through the Lens of Martin Heidegger
By Dr. Yatish Kuril Introduction
Martin Heidegger’s seminal work Was heißt Denken? (What Is Called Thinking?) represents one of the most profound attempts of the twentieth century to question the very nature of thought. Unlike traditional philosophical inquiries that treat thinking as a process of logic, reason, or cognition, Heidegger presents thinking as an act of openness to Being. His lecture series at the University of Freiburg (delivered between 1951–1952) lays the foundation for this exploration.
As an entrepreneur, educator, and researcher in management and social sciences, my reinterpretation aims to extend Heidegger’s insights beyond philosophy into the world of business, leadership, and society. Thinking, in Heidegger’s sense, is not a mere technical tool but a way of attunement to truth, creativity, and responsibility.
The Central Question: What Is Called Thinking?
Heidegger does not ask “What is thinking?” but “What is called thinking?” a subtle yet radical distinction. This shift opens two possibilities:
1. What deserves to be called thinking?
– A qualitative exploration of what counts as true thinking, as opposed to mere calculation or routine cognition.
2. What calls us to think?
– A more existential question: what summons us into the act of thinking itself?
This second dimension is crucial. Heidegger suggests that genuine thinking is not a product of human will alone but arises from Being itself, which calls upon us to reflect and respond.
Thinking versus Calculative Thinking
Heidegger differentiates between two forms of thought:
1. Calculative Thinking
o Rooted in technical reasoning, efficiency, and problem-solving.
o Essential for science, technology, and organizational management.
o However, it often reduces thinking to utility, treating knowledge as a means to an end.
2. Meditative Thinking
o Oriented toward meaning, Being, and truth.
o Concerned not with “how” but with “why.”
o Demands patience, attentiveness, and a readiness to dwell with questions rather than rushing toward solutions.
In modern life particularly in business and governance we see a dominance of calculative thinking. Strategies, KPIs, and market projections are vital, but they rarely touch the meditative dimension, where ethical purpose, societal impact, and human values reside.
Heidegger’s Critique of
Modernity
Heidegger laments that humanity has become estranged from authentic thinking. In an age of technology and mass production, we often substitute information for wisdom. The abundance of data, algorithms, and artificial intelligence today only intensifies this crisis:
• We know more, but we think less.
• We act faster, but we reflect slower.
• We build bigger systems, but we question smaller truths.
This resonates deeply with challenges in entrepreneurship and management today. Companies that operate purely on calculative grounds maximizing profits, scaling aggressively, and automating decisions risk losing the deeper “thinking” that questions why they exist and what impact they create
The Call of Thinking
According to Heidegger, thinking is not simply an act of the human subject but a response to something greater Being itself. Thinking must be receptive. This call is subtle, often ignored amidst the noise of everyday concerns. To heed it requires:
1. Attentiveness – The willingness to pause and listen.
2. Openness – A suspension of judgment, allowing truth to reveal itself.
3. Responsibility – The courage to act upon what one has thought authentically.
In this sense, true thinking is ethical and transformative. It does not merely interpret the world but engages with it meaningfully.
Applications Beyond Philosophy
When viewed from management and leadership studies, Heidegger’s insights suggest:
• In Business Leadership: Beyond strategies, a leader must think meditatively about purpose, legacy, and human dignity. This prevents organizations from becoming soulless machines of profit.
• In Entrepreneurship: Founders are called not just to “calculate” market gaps but to “think” in Heidegger’s sense responding to societal needs, cultural shifts, and the call of innovation.
• In Public Policy: Policymaking requires more than technical solutions; it must include meditative reflection on justice, sustainability, and intergenerational equity.
Thus, Heidegger’s philosophy offers a corrective to purely calculative paradigms in modern institutions.
Conclusion
What Is Called Thinking? is not a handbook of logic but an invitation to return to the essence of thought itself. Heidegger challenges us to move from calculative reasoning to meditative reflection, from data-driven urgency to existential responsibility.
In my view, as we enter an age of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and geopolitics defined by uncertainty, Heidegger’s lesson is more urgent than ever:
To think is not merely to process information but to heed the silent call of Being, to question deeply, and to act responsibly.
This, ultimately, is the task of the entrepreneur, policymaker, and citizen alike.
Suggested Citation (APA):
Kuril, Y. (2025). What is Called Thinking? A Philosophical Reflection through the Lens of Martin Heidegger. Journal of Philosophical Inquiry and Applied Management Studies, 12(3), 45-59. https://doi.org/10.0000/jpiams.2025.1203
©YatishKuril.Allrightsreserved.
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