But how can "history" be designated the theme of Heidegger's thinking? Is not his theme rather being? Here one must keep in mind the context in which "being" is relevant for Heidegger. It is the history of Western thought. Its great theme and at the same time its great fate is "being." Hence, to understand the nature of its history, Heidegger has to inquire as to the meaning of "being". But Heidegger's reflection ultimately goes beyond this theme. In his dialogue with a Japanese professor about the possibility of the West and the Far East understanding each other, the topic is no longer being but rather language and hermeneutic. Similarly in the address, "Der Weg zur Sprache," and in other recent statements Heidegger no longer speaks of being but rather of "e-vent" ("Ereignis"). The theme of history as history's room, the theme of thinking as historic hermeneutic, is broader than the theme of being. The latter is limited to the inquiry as to the nature of history of Western thought. Hence on occasion Heidegger could even say that the concept "being" should not even occur in theology.

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¶ 8:14 AM