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Single Idea 15520

[from 'Parts of Classes' by David Lewis, in 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 2. Types of Existence ]

Full Idea

Existence cannot be a matter of degree. If you say there is something that exists to a diminished degree, once you've said 'there is' your game is up.

Gist of Idea

Existence doesn't come in degrees; once asserted, it can't then be qualified

Source

David Lewis (Parts of Classes [1991], 3.5)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Parts of Classes' [Blackwell 1991], p.80


A Reaction

You might have thought that this was so obvious as to be not worth saying, but as far as I can see it is a minority view in contemporary philosophy. It was Quine's view, and it is mine.