Questions tagged [existence]
Ontological and metaphysical questions about the study of existence, being and the structure of reality.
306
questions
0
votes
1
answer
38
views
What should a person do?
Edit 1: As pointed out in the comments, the question implies the existence of a purpose and agency so I would like to re-phrase the question to match what I'm after:
What should a person do? (What is ...
2
votes
0
answers
71
views
Modal logic for absoluteness
Modern modal logic has the modalities of necessity and possibility. However, both of these can be seen as relative to the set of possible worlds and the accessibility relation chosen for the semantics....
- 189
-1
votes
1
answer
77
views
The timeline of everything
My friend (catholic) and I (atheist) were taking about religion. We bare both scientists and therefore wanted to look at it scientifically.
After discussing, We have stopped at the question about ...
- 1
-1
votes
0
answers
76
views
A new way to answer "Why is there something rather than nothing?"
So, this is not going to be an answer, but rather a viewpoint that demands heavy questions.
For a second, forget about the question and come to dreaming. In a dream, through personal experiences, I ...
- 209
5
votes
2
answers
174
views
On physical existence. Do virtual particles of QFT exist?
Existence is a polysemic and difficult word to define. Almost certainly numbers (and other well-defined mathematical objects) exist in a different way than a real physical object (the chair I sit in, ...
- 189
5
votes
7
answers
3k
views
An argument that everything exists
This is similar to my previous question, here: An argument that everything is possible. I have an argument that everything exists. For, that which does not exist is not a thing at all. For example, ...
- 2,822
3
votes
2
answers
132
views
Are there things that don't exist?
This question is tripping me up.
My working definition of exists is "affecting something/someone"
Consider the following frame of reference: My bedroom
I now have two categories.
Things that ...
- 31
4
votes
0
answers
64
views
Does Kant implicitly commit the paralogism of pure reason when saying that to have a representation it is necessary to accompany it with 'I think'?
In Caygill's Kant Dictionary entry of 'I Think' there is this part:
Kant further claims that 'I think' is the necessary vehicle/form/accompaniment of experience: to have a representation it is ...
- 545
-3
votes
1
answer
114
views
Is gravity a natural manifestation of universal egoism? [closed]
What bothers me is the possibility that egoism could be an intrinsic trait of existence in general.
So we have gravity whereby masses pull each other towards themselves.
An objection could be that ...
- 311
0
votes
1
answer
60
views
Comparing one modal interchange with another
In the normal systems of modal logic, you can have either of the following:
Possibly X is defined as not necessarily not X
Necessarily X is defined as not possibly not X
I know this is not the same ...
- 2,914
0
votes
0
answers
43
views
What are the arguments for and against metaphysical solipsism?
As far as I understand, from the position of metaphysical solipsism, everything that exists is only one single mind, and everything else is its hallucinations. And the only argument "for" ...
- 147
0
votes
5
answers
150
views
If everything ends one day why don't we end it today?
Is there any doctrine which gives reason why to wait till end of the world?
I'm 18 and not depressed.
I am not asking the purpose of life. I'm asking why should we fulfil the purpose if the result or ...
- 81
12
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Is faith just a consolation for the common folk?
In reading Dostoevsky, I stumbled upon the perplexing question of faith being a mere consolation. And in spite of considering myself a believer, I still agree to this statement to a certain extent. ...
- 219
0
votes
1
answer
163
views
Is there a difference between "Nothing exists in the universe" and "Nothing exists, not even the universe"?
Is there a difference between claiming "Nothing exists in the universe" and claiming "Nothing exists, not even the universe"? It seems to me that the former implies the universe, ...
- 2,822
2
votes
4
answers
270
views
Can you disprove Last Thursdayism for the time since you were born?
Let's take this week for example. I know that I exist now on Monday, and that this coming Thursday won't begin all existence. Therefore Last Thursdayism for the future is disproved. This means that ...
- 315
2
votes
2
answers
212
views
Something vs Nothing. Reality of 0?
Is nothing really nothing or is it something? Like is 0 something or nothing?
And if nothing is something then would it be right to say that if nothing existed, something existed. And something must ...
- 63
-1
votes
2
answers
133
views
Simultaneity of Astronauts
Let us image a spacecraft in fast orbit. Since it took off its clock has lost several minutes relative to Earth time. From the ground we can speak to the astronauts, although there is 1 second radio ...
- 3,574
2
votes
3
answers
295
views
How can anything, such as a gender or sex, be said to exist?
It’s very common to hear people nowadays say that there are two related aspects of humans with regards to perhaps something we could call “dimorphism” or typology associated with form and reproductive ...
- 199
0
votes
0
answers
117
views
Is Husserl's transcendental ego God?
We will eventually come up against something that cannot be varied
without destroying that object as an instance of its kind. The
implicit claim here is that if it is inconceivable that an object of
...
user57343
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
Do individual obligations cease to exist when discharged?
While I was thinking about a (hopefully possible!) system of deontic logic with a prospective and retrospective OB operator respectively(!), I was fairly uncertain, maybe even confused, about how I ...
- 2,914
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Are idealists committed to claiming that every idea contains its inversion?
Are idealists - does anyone claim - about some domain - committed to believing that every idea contains its inversion?
So that, e.g. when an effect depends on its cause, the cause also depends on its ...
user57343
0
votes
2
answers
133
views
Existence being analytic of God vs. God being analytic of existence
Elsewhere, in light of the idea that understanding is not a species of knowledge but an epistemic genus parallel to knowledge, and then in terms of an understanding logic, I asked whether knowledge of ...
- 2,914
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
A proposal for the meaning of life [closed]
I propose that the meaning of something is "all of the information related to it", and thus that the meaning of life is "all of the information related to life" - all of the causes ...
- 33
4
votes
3
answers
586
views
The shape and extension of the fundamental particles
You could say that particles are just 0-dimensional points. But point particles are just an idealization. If particles are taken to exist physically, and anything which has physical existence has ...
- 609
0
votes
2
answers
100
views
Can truth exist even though nothing happens?
There’s magnet. If the magnet didn’t attract the other magnet and then disappeared, in this case can “the magnet attracts the other magnet” never be true?
- 3
1
vote
3
answers
183
views
Is there a philosophical framework within which the question of existence does not arise?
Is there a philosophical framework within which the question of existence in general,
and of matter in particular, does not arise?
Being aware of the seemingly hopeless nature of the subject,
I'm ...
- 311
1
vote
1
answer
37
views
How did the existence-essence distinction help Aquinas explain finite being?
In a tortuously compressed passage, Frederick Copleston writes
[Aquinas] adopted the (originally) Platonic notion of participation,
[but] he did not employ it in a manner which would conflict with ...
- 148
0
votes
1
answer
111
views
What sort of thought is nihilism?
The basic question for nihilism (as I understand) is "Why do I exist?" As they try to deny it.
I was wondering that this is not a well defined concept. The argument is as follows, I exist ...
- 31
-2
votes
1
answer
241
views
If love could be measured as a physical energy, would it be philosophically / scientifically important? [closed]
Surely, philosophically, this scientific breakthrough is important:
Whilst watching one of world-renowned polymath Gregg Braden's many presentations online, he introduced the principle that the 'love ...
- 35
0
votes
2
answers
248
views
What does this quote by Albert Camus mean?
"...we fall into the ridiculous contradiction of a mind that asserts total unity and proves by its very assertion its own difference and the diversity it claimed to resolve." As written in ...
- 219
2
votes
2
answers
91
views
Is al-Farabi right that predicates must add information and existence is not a predicate?
Al-Farabi claimed that existence is not a predicate, because "exists" as in "Apple is red and exists." doesn't bring any new information, but does a predicate have to bring in a ...
- 1,243
-1
votes
1
answer
81
views
What are the different forms of "why?" and why are they different?
It is so often asked: "Why?" But what does it mean? What do we expect from this question? A "because"? If the question is answered it seems to give people a kind of relief.
Why do ...
user53288
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
"Unicorns don’t exist" vs "unicorns aren't real"
What is the difference between “unicorns don’t exist” and “unicorns don't really exist”? Is this similar to how "it is true that there are unicorns" reduces to "there are unicorns"?...
1
vote
6
answers
2k
views
Is everything just coincidence?
The lyrics of a song by The Chameleons made me wonder:
It's just coincidence
Well you can talk that way
But I have to say
I don't believe in it
After considering these lyrics, I have the ...
2
votes
1
answer
74
views
How does Spinoza deduce substance must cause itself?
Prop. VII. Existence Belongs to the Nature of Substance
Spinoza demonstrates this by arguing substance must be the cause of itself, i.e. existence must belong to the nature of substance (by def. 1). ...
0
votes
2
answers
101
views
What are possible naturalistic explanations to the question of existence?
Non-philosopher here, though I enjoy reading about it. Without getting into complex deductive arguments, suppose I say the following: Define the entities of the material world however one likes (maybe ...
- 357
6
votes
13
answers
4k
views
Is reincarnation inevitable?
My reasoning:
Suppose the universe is infinite in spacetime (both space and time have no bounds). In this spacetime, a cyclic appearance of particles occurs (cyclic big bangs). When I'm alive I ...
user52804
0
votes
0
answers
39
views
On the purpose of human existence and unequal ability to understand complex things
I'm one of those people who think that the most important concern for us is to precisely understand the purpose of human existence ... I'm really surprised that our governments around the earth, even ...
-1
votes
3
answers
251
views
Must mathematical entities necessarily exist? [duplicate]
Are mathematical entities necessarily existing objects? That is to say, it is impossible for e.g. the real numbers not to exist. Have any philosophers talked about this topic?
- 2,822
1
vote
2
answers
238
views
Is existence itself necessary?
I define ‘existence’ here as the totality of being, and I take it as obvious that existence is actual. In this context, ‘necessary’ will be defined as ‘must exist because it cannot fail to exist’.
The ...
- 47
3
votes
2
answers
187
views
Is there a view that only abstract objects exist, and being an abstract structure is enough for a world to be experienced by its observers?
I am looking for a view that would completely eliminate concrete objects by saying that being an abstract structure is enough for a world to be experienced by it's observers. If it is enough for a ...
- 96
3
votes
1
answer
199
views
According to Aquinas, what is the relationship between the substantial form of a bodily being and its act of existing, ie. its esse?
Consider, for example, an existing bodily being. Because it is bodily, we know that it is composed of prime matter and substantial form. Also, because the bodily being is existing (not just made up in ...
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
147
views
Is there anyway to prove things happen/exist if I'm not aware of them?
I don't even know how to properly ask this, but how can one prove things happen without them knowing?
Things only exist for me when I'm aware of them, either by direct contact (I see it, I feel it etc....
- 123
4
votes
1
answer
239
views
Heidegger's "Dasein" vs. Sartre's "Being for itself"
I must admit, I am relatively new to existentialist philosophy. But I couldn't help notice the similarities between Heidegger's "Dasein" and Satre's "Being-for-itself". I was ...
- 163
-1
votes
3
answers
105
views
From what did we instantiated the concept of "Nothingness"
So as i understand according to Aristotle's theory of abstraction every abstract concept (i.e universal) is instantiated (or abstracted) from it particulars in the outside world if that so how can we ...
0
votes
2
answers
105
views
Does my personal philosophy have a name?
I am not trained in philosophical thinking nor have I read philosophy except for the motto "I think therefore I am".
My personal philosophy
I know that something exists (by observation and ...
0
votes
4
answers
184
views
Ruminations on the question 'Why there is something rather than nothing?' and the limits of explanation. May it be unanswerable?
I find myself incessantly returning to the brute mystery of existence, and find Leibniz’s pioneering answer to the fundamental question of metaphysics (as it is sometimes referred to) 'Why is there ...
- 151
-1
votes
2
answers
147
views
Are not all atheists' arguments against God pure evasions from the issue itself of God exists or not? [closed]
For example, let any readers here just ask an articulate atheist his argument that God does not exist, and you will notice that he is in his argument not really into arguing but into evading the issue ...
0
votes
1
answer
111
views
Is there a difference between 'exists' and 'theoretically possible'?
For the purpose of this questions let's assume that the physics of our universe can be fully described by a complete non-contradictory theory (i.e. that theory of everything exists). Then our universe ...
- 207
1
vote
1
answer
111
views
Can we make statements for persons/objects that cease to exist?
I am asking this question because I thought what truth value would have a have a quantifier over a set that contains persons that are dead. For example suppose I state:
"For every x that is ...
- 711