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Single Idea 15535

[filed under theme 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 2. Types of Existence ]

Full Idea

If 'existence' is understood so that it can be a substantive thesis that only some of the things there are exist, we will have none of it.

Gist of Idea

We can't accept a use of 'existence' that says only some of the things there are actually exist

Source

David Lewis (Noneism or Allism? [1990], p.163)

Book Ref

Lewis,David: 'Papers in Metaphysics and Epistemology' [CUP 1999], p.163

A Reaction

Lewis is a strong advocate, following Quine, of the univocal sense of the word 'exist', and I agree with them.

The 4 ideas from 'Noneism or Allism?'

15532 'Allists' embrace the existence of all controversial entities; 'noneists' reject all but the obvious ones [Lewis]
15533 We can quantify over fictions by quantifying for real over their names [Lewis]
15534 We could quantify over impossible objects - as bundles of properties [Lewis]
15535 We can't accept a use of 'existence' that says only some of the things there are actually exist [Lewis]