"The philosopher must dare to become a father-killer,'¹ Heidegger told his students in his lecture-course of 1924–5. He proved himself true to his word just a few years later when he carried out his own act of parricide. By that stage all the other malign masters had already disposed of their paternal mentors. By this Oedipal deed each sought to establish his independence and, indeed, superiority as a philosopher and take the place of the slain father. The philosophical public cheered: the master is dead, long live the master.