LIFE IN EXISTENCE: THE UNITY OF COMPOSITIONAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL WAYS OF BEING

Abstract

In this paper, I examine the problem of the unity of ways of being within the framework of hermeneutic ontological pluralism. Considering the ontological pluralism formulated by Heidegger in the project of fundamental ontology, I analyse the dependence relation between the way of being of existence and the way of being of organic life. Based on the distinction between composition and constitution, I suggest that in the human being existence makes up the constitutional way of being, while organic life is the compositional one. The way of being of life is presented hereby as a quite specific foundation of the way of being of existence. The grounding relationship is elucidated as a generic and permanent existential dependency, but not as an essential dependency relationship. In addition, I examine the epistemic dependence of life on the way of being of existence. In a non-trivial sense, epistemic dependence is committed to a robust position, according to which access to life of organisms is dependent on access to life that makes up human existence. I conclude with the outline of a program for addressing the disruptive phenomena in which life becomes perspicuous in human existence.­