Single Idea 3905

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / b. Ontological Proof critique]

Full Idea

When I say that a man exists, Frege argues, I do not predicate existence of a man, but rather of the concept man: I say the concept has at least one instance (and existence is a predicate of predicates).

Clarification

This is why 'existence is not a predicate'

Gist of Idea

'Existence' is not a predicate of 'man', but of the concept of man, saying it has at least one instance

Source

Roger Scruton (Modern Philosophy:introduction and survey [1994], 26.2)

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'Modern Philosophy: introduction and survey' [Sinclair-Stevenson 1994], p.386