If I wanted to define "existence" as "that which we encounter but cannot will", what philosophical tradition would that put me in? What authors took up that position or a similar one? What authors criticized that position? Or is this position nonsensical?
To give more details about what that formula could mean, what we "encounter" would be what our mind becomes aware of. For example, I am aware of this table in front of me. Of course, I could become aware of some things, e.g. an "atom", only indirectly, but that may not be an obstacle here. What we "cannot will" would be what our mind was given but is not an immediate product of our mind. That table was not just imagined by my mind. I can get confirmation that it is not just inside my head from others (sane, not blind...) who also can see and touch it. Also, I cannot just will that table into existence with an injunction such as "let there be a table!". Although, of course, I can formulate a plan, get some wood and a saw and get to work to produce a table. But my mind cannot immediately "will" that table into a concrete existence.
I am sure this position is fraught with many issues. I am looking for references that would discuss something close to it.