Questions tagged [existence]
Ontological and metaphysical questions about the study of existence, being and the structure of reality.
387
questions
6
votes
3
answers
323
views
How to denote the idea of nothingness in formal terms?
I was thinking about the question "Why is there something rather than nothing?" , and have read about some theories that existence is the case because non-existence is logically impossible
So, I ...
- 2,369
1
vote
5
answers
250
views
Problem with defining existence and being conscious
First of all i know that there is no widely accepted definition of existence, the same with definition of being conscious. However i would like to know whether there are definitions which are not ...
- 155
3
votes
3
answers
461
views
Does the existential quantifier express existence?
Does the existential quantifier express existence?
The existential quantifier is a symbol of symbolic logic which
expresses that the statements within its scope are true for at least
one ...
user38026
0
votes
1
answer
196
views
How to make sense of minds of others? [closed]
I've asked a question about the criteria for existence, but here I want to focus on a particular aspect. What does it mean If I say: Bob has a mind - Bob's mind exists - Bob is not a philosophical ...
- 477
1
vote
0
answers
110
views
Philosophic current in this excerpt of Ask the dust
I read Ask the dust by John Fante. The following is an excerpt from the book. It is right after Arturo went to Vera Rivken's place and feels guilty for having slept with her.
My question is: what is ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
127
views
why "I think therefore I am" not "I think therefore I am thinking"? [duplicate]
why "thinking" jumped into the conclusion of "existence" as things can exist without thinking too. and what are all the other method except this that could prove our existence?
- 315
0
votes
1
answer
128
views
Does the real line mean that the start and end points of any line must exist?
In mathematics, a real number is a value of a continuous quantity that
can represent a distance along a line
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_number
We consider the set of real numbers, ...
user38026
-2
votes
2
answers
348
views
Does the Universe make sense? [closed]
When faced with a paradox, we say: well this can't be because it doesn't make sense.
p = "x doesn't make sense"
q = "x doesn't exist"
The contrapositive preserves validity:
p implies q
(not q) ...
- 691
0
votes
1
answer
193
views
Self contradictory things that can't really exist: can they be fully conceived of?
It seems like we can conceive of self contradictory things that can exist. e.g. the proposition expressed by "this sentence is false" is self contradictory but I don't seem to have any trouble ...
user38026
0
votes
2
answers
129
views
Could an almighty Creator make something that existed for its own sake?
If someone sees their existence as an end in itself, yet also admits that they did not create themselves, then are they not saying that whatever created them had done so for their [the created thing's]...
- 515
0
votes
1
answer
177
views
What is the purpose of the existence of the universe? [closed]
Why did the universe come into existence?
Going through the timeline of the universe (Big Bang, separation of forces, symmetry breaking, particle formation...), everything that happened lead ...
- 11
5
votes
1
answer
280
views
Is existence essential to God?
Thomas Aquinas said that God was absolute perfect, God being pure actuality and had no potentiality. If there was a time where there wasn't an existence, then God would have a potentiality and not ...
4
votes
3
answers
442
views
Are there philosophers who argue for a close connection between consciousness and existence?
(I'm not entirely satisfied with this question because I can't quite express it clearly, but a personal experience has moved me to ask it. I know it may be too vague or general.)
The consciousness my ...
- 3,784
4
votes
1
answer
183
views
How is 'existence' defined? [closed]
How would you define 'existence'?
Is it a requisite for an entity to be able to interact with other entities to be considered as 'existent'?
What if there are real objects in the universe which ...
1
vote
1
answer
141
views
Existence: Pain and Pleasure [closed]
Sometimes, I swear, I think the only two things in all of existence which have any real meaning whatsoever are "pleasure" and "pain" ...
What does it mean to exist, if that existence is mired in pain?...
- 11
0
votes
3
answers
193
views
Do Heidegger and some of his readers know why there is something rather than nothing?
Do Heidegger and some of his readers know why there is something rather than nothing? There seems to the suggestion in the SEP that he may explain why, but it's unclear in what way the argument can be ...
user38026
3
votes
0
answers
93
views
Understanding 'existence' and 'being' in debates about ordinary objects
Quine has brought forward his definition of existence: 'To be is to be the value of a bound variable.' But has also taught us that the sciences ultimately determine what actually exists contrary to ...
- 31
1
vote
4
answers
863
views
Is there another state besides existence and nonexistence?
Today I told someone who said that there is no objective truth the next thing: "For example, we, as humans, cannot know if God exists or he does not but we can know for sure that one of these two ...
2
votes
6
answers
760
views
Is everything that exists an actual entity?
My professor asked us to think about this question as we go through the unit but I am not sure what the question means. I would greatly appreciate if you could help me understand the question or give ...
- 29
1
vote
0
answers
421
views
What are some differences between Avicenna and Descartes in regards to being unable to doubt one's own existence
Given Descartes' Cogito and Avicenna's Floating Man arguments, what are some differences between them? It appears to me that they are both arriving to the same conclusion but the process by which they ...
4
votes
7
answers
2k
views
How can we be certain that we cannot be certain?
I read a lot about people saying that it is impossible to be certain about anything with 100% certainty, but that means that this rule in and of itself must be true 100%.
I mean the rule that "we ...
- 141
5
votes
1
answer
446
views
If turtles see everything, and nothing seen can see, does it follow that non-turtles exist?
Consider the following argument:
Turtles see everything. Seeing is asymmetric (for the sake of argument). Therefore, something is not a turtle.
I have problems symbolizing these statements.
My ...
- 153
1
vote
4
answers
188
views
Would philosophy still exist if there was no life? [closed]
Would philosophy still exist without life? For example, for us humans, philosophy answers big questions and sort of governs society. But is philosophy something that would exist without life? On this ...
- 364
17
votes
17
answers
19k
views
If you place a pencil in an opaque box and close the box, does the pencil exist? [closed]
I’m trying to explain to my friends about things existing. I gave them this question: if you place a pencil in an opaque box and close the box, does the pencil exist? They say yes and I ask how do ...
1
vote
1
answer
660
views
What if the Evil Genius in Descartes' "I think therefore I am" put into our minds the action of doubting?
I am briefly aware of Descartes' argument that even if an Evil Genius made us believe that the world is real the fact that we can doubt this shows that we are thinking and that through thought we can ...
1
vote
4
answers
951
views
Has the instinct of survival a philosophical equivalent?
Descartes' fundamental truth (cogito, ergo sum) would help me accept without any doubt that I do exist. So, I accept that I do exist without any doubt.
But there's another truth that --for me-- seem ...
- 6,831
0
votes
2
answers
275
views
Can the existence of something be proven by logic alone [duplicate]
I want to know if proving the existence of something by using only logic is possible.
- 559
2
votes
4
answers
6k
views
What does Descartes mean by thinking?
He says, that he cannot think that he is thinking while actually not thinking. So, the fact that he thinks that he is thinking already guarantees that he thinks.
But what kind of thinking is it? Does ...
- 304
1
vote
1
answer
143
views
Do humans have the comprehension of an ant regarding certain things?
The leading theory behind the anomaly that is human intelligence is that humans had the greatest diversity in selective pressures over the course of our evolutionary history which allowed only the ...
- 99
1
vote
2
answers
172
views
Lack of meaning in life [closed]
Most of people probably associate depression only with sadness, but it is a big mistake, because often there is huge drowsiness, apathy, indifference, constant physical fatigue, derealization, ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
216
views
Is there a philosophy of what we can't know?
Is there a philosophy of what we can't know?
I'd guess that some things we can't know may exist, and have properties. But is that the same as things that we can't know exist?
user35983
0
votes
3
answers
495
views
Arguments/premises to disprove God's omniscience
I was thinking about validity of God's omniscience and stumbled upon three statements, which can be summarized as -
To be omniscient, a being would require to capture and store all the
data in the ...
user36421
7
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to disprove "I'm entitled to my opinion"
Background
There is an article in The Conversation that attempts to disprove the notion that people are "entitled to their opinions." That is, people have a right to believe whatever they ...
- 173
3
votes
1
answer
301
views
How does this anthropic principle argument from Schopenhauer make any sense?
According to a blog post This is what another universe looks like, "in Arthur Schopenhauer's 1844 work "Von der Nichtigkeit und dem Leiden des Lebens", he argues that our world must be the worst of ...
0
votes
2
answers
75
views
Does a behavior/ideology need to be before it can be moral? [closed]
It seems that there are some characteristics that are dependent on other characteristics. For example: for a machine to be productive, it must first be functioning, so it must first be turned on, so ...
4
votes
1
answer
367
views
Does Valberg's "personal horizon" entail life after death?
The personal horizon is, Valberg contends, the subject matter whose
center each of us occupies, and which for each of us ceases with
death. This ceasing to be presents itself solipsistically not ...
- 2,387
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What does the term "ego" really mean?
According to different sources and authors, ego is referred to as one's self-perception by one's self concept. It is sometimes considered as selfishism. But what can a person do that will not refer to ...
-5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is This Proof of Existence and a Solution to P=NP Problem? [closed]
P =/= NP Proof (The Theory of Everything)
Polynomial time problems are known to problems exist. Assume Existence exists. By definition everything in existence is in existence. This means nothing can’...
3
votes
4
answers
419
views
'Thanks, but no thanks' - God and my existence
Problem: God (in an Abrahamic religion) created me without asking me if I would want this life. Now I don't want this life. If I commit suicide, I will burn in hell for eternity. I just want to cease ...
- 477
1
vote
3
answers
136
views
How do moral skeptics respond to the concept of permissible heinous acts
The Problem
Let's say I am debating my friend Jake who believes that morality exists. But I am a hard determinist who believes that all actions are predetermined by some act or event beforehand. Jake ...
- 119
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
Are there any arguments for why something past-eternal must necessarily be future-eternal as well?
If we assume that something has always existed in the past, what reason is there to assume that it won't perish in the future?
I pondered on it and I wondered whether the following argument works: ...
- 408
2
votes
1
answer
439
views
Do we Desire out of Hope or we Hope out of Desire? [closed]
Just for an example consider the following specific scenerio:
If I desire that I want a million dollars in few years, is that out of hope of better future.
OR
I hope of a better future, because I ...
user30437
1
vote
4
answers
3k
views
If the Universe(s) didn't exist, Would all maths still exist?
Many scientists say that maths transcends creation, the future, it exists for all time. For example the Mandelbrot is just an equation that can still exist when the universe goes cold.
Because I don'...
- 182
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is it possible to be 100% certain of the existence of reality?
I don't really understand why some philosophers claim that it's impossible to be absolutely certain of anything except my own consciousness. Isn't that absurd? Personally I believe that this kind of ...
user34482
12
votes
16
answers
7k
views
Can we logically prove that anything exists?
Suppose I want to prove that negative numbers exist. Well, I could easily do that using a mathematical proof. However, all I would be doing is adding another logical object to a list of known logical ...
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
149
views
Which authors have discussed embarassment in philosophy?
Could anyone point me to some authors who have discussed the theme of embarrassment in depth? I couldn't find anyone with basic Google search.
I was hoping there must be some works regarding the ...
- 21
23
votes
14
answers
6k
views
Is willful ignorance about one's own mortality escapism?
I don't mean if someone is dying of cancer and they refuse treatment or something -- I'm saying if a healthy person who is unhappy obsessing over his own inevitable death one day chooses to ignore ...
- 957
2
votes
2
answers
209
views
Philosophy of dreams
According to some eastern teachings (Tantric, Buddhist, etc) it's a good thing to ponder and meditate on dreams:
Dream 1
A person dreams of finding money or gold or any other luxuries. This
...
user22051
4
votes
2
answers
253
views
Books/resources on non-existence
I believe that after we die there is nothing. The same that was before being born. So while I won’t care about not existing when it happens, the thought of it does bother me now, as I like being and ...
- 231
27
votes
15
answers
19k
views
Being alive today: the most improbable coincidence?
Think about it; modern humans have been around for at least a couple hundred thousand years.
Yet, your mind, your soul, your very awareness, happens to be "alive" today. If time is a flow, moving ...
- 387