Heidegger's ontology?

Question

For those who have studied Heidegger, where should I start reading to learn about his views of ontology?

Answer 1

Although Being and Time is considered to be his 'magnum opus,' it was during the years after its publication that he began to express his ontological explorations in concise form, as essay lectures, out of which "What is Metaphysics?" and "The Essence of Truth" were valued enough by him to append with new introductions in 1943 and 1949. Not only are these essays relatively short, and beautiful; they are often present on the collegiate syllabi of phenomenology and existentialism courses. Those give direct examples of discovering what ontology is; however, if you prefer approaching the topic in a more poetic context, then venture further into the collection of essays post Sein und Zeit -- "The Origin of the Work of Art," and "The Question Concerning Technology" are breathtaking favorites. As a fifth option, if I were looking for broad strokes, or a more contextual, historically oriented inquiry into the question of what 'Being' is, then I'd read the "Letter on Humanism."

Answer 2

Read Heidegger's "Letter on Humanism", in which he says:

"The human body is essentially something other than an animal organism."

AND

"The human being is not the lord of beings, but the shepherd of Being."

AND

"Language is the house of the truth of Being."

Answer 3

Being and Time is the place to start. It's a tough read but there is alot of good commentary on it.