Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) is now regarded as one of the twentieth century's most important philosophers, whose work, particularly "Being and Time", has influenced not only philosophy but also theology, political science and aesthetics. The Athlone Contemprary European Thinkers series includes several published and forth coming works by Heidegger.

Ted Sadler, the translator of the work, studied at the University of Sydney and has taught philosophy widely at Australian universities. He is the author of "Nietzsche: Truth and Redemption" and "Heidegger and Aristotle", and the translator of "Towards a Definition of Philosophy" and "The Essence of Truth", in this series.

"The Essence of Human Freedom" is a fundamental text for understanding heidegger's view of Greek philosophy and its relationship to modern philosophy. After a preliminary discussion of the problem of freedom and its relationship to philosophy, Heidegger devotes Part One primarily to the meaning of "being" in Greek metaphysics, thus providing the framework for his interpretation of Kant's treatment of freedom and causality in Part Two.

In no other work by Heidegger do we find as detailed a consideration of Kant's practical philosophy as given in the present text. Further, in no other work is Heidegger's interpretation of Aristotle's "Metaphysics" presented with comparable thoroughness. These previously untraslated lectures were delivered by Heidegger at the University of Freiburg in the summer of 1930.