Santayana On Heidegger: Romantic Introspection Or Soliloquy Made Extraordinarily Accurate

A book that I read and re-read several times during the 1980's was Daniel Cory's Santayana: The Later Years: A Portrait With Letters. Daniel Cory was both a personal friend of George Santayana in the philosopher's later years and his literary executor after Santayana's death. The relationship between the two men that emerges from their correspondence is one of mutual warmth and intellectual stimulation. The book offers a unique introduction to the philosophy of Santayana as it (and he) matured and illustrates the many ways in which his thought emerged from his life. Few books on philosophy allow us to see the humanity of the thinker as this one does. It is a beautiful read.

Today, however, I wish only to note a revealing set of remarks from Santayana's letter to Cory in his letter of October 13, 1933:

Have you heard of a German philosopher named Martin Heidegger? I have been reading...an article of his on "Nothing" which is wonderful. He is an Hegelian but original, and very intuitive. Romantic introspection or soliloquy made extraordinarily accurate. [114].