The Existence PrincipleWhen we ask whether something exists, we expect a yes or no answer, not a further query about what kind of existence, how much of it, whether we mean existence for you or existence for me, or whether we are asking about some property which it might have. In this book, this simple requirement is defended and pursued into its various and sometimes surprising implications. In the course of this pursuit, such questions arise as `Do appearances exist?' `Do unknowable things exist?' `Do past and future exist?' `Does God necessarily exist?' This novel and non-technical approach to important philosophical questions will be of interest to senior students of philosophy and, indeed, to all general readers with philosophical interests. |
Contents
The Defense of the Existence Principle | 16 |
Realism and the Existence Principle | 29 |
Appearance and Intentionality | 52 |
Perspectives and Partial Truths | 75 |
The Law of Excluded Middle | 92 |
Time and Existence | 113 |
Universals and Properties | 133 |
Necessary and Possible Existence | 157 |
Perfection and Existence | 175 |
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Common terms and phrases
A.N. Prior Abstract Particulars accept admit admittedly affairs alleged alternative to existing analogy appearances argument avoid basic Bertrand Russell bivalence breach causal challenge claim clause concept of existence concerned consider context contradiction course deny dependent existence Descartes different kinds distinction distinguished doubt dualism elementary sense entities envisage excluded middle existence principle fact false beliefs G.E. Moore idea incompatible indeterminacy indeterminate intentional objects ISBN Kant Keith Lehrer kinds of existence knowledge knowledge-dependent existence law of excluded law of non-contradiction logical Meinong's mentioned merely metaphysical metaphysical theory Michael Dummett mind necessary existence necessitation necessity Nicholas Rescher non-veridical ontological ontological argument perceptions perspective metaphor Philosophy Plato present problem proposition question real existence realism reason reference regarded rejection relation relativism Sect simply existing space spatial speak special kind statements suggests talk temporal tense third item thought trouble true or false truth truth-value vague
Popular passages
Page 183 - God necessarily exists" means that it follows necessarily from something that God exists contingently. The a priori proposition "God necessarily exists" entails the proposition "God exists," if and only if the latter also is understood as an a priori proposition: in which case the two propositions are equivalent. In this sense Anselm's proof is a proof of God's existence.