What evidently drew Heidegger’s attention to this particular essay [Kant's “The Only Possible Basis of Proof for a Demonstration of God’s Existence (Dasein)”], however, was its brisk definition of Dasein—his central word—as “absolute position.” When the verb “is” is used not as a copula to relate a subject to its predicate as in “God is omnipotent” but is asserted abruptly, absolutely, as in “God is” or “God exists,” it signifies, Kant claims, a mere positing of an object. By this, in Heidegger’s interpretation, Kant means that the object is affirmed by a knowing subject as available to perception. In other words, existence is not a predicate and adds no objective attribute to God’s essence.

¶ 7:14 AM