Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Matter and Motion Cannot Think' and 'Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy'

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2 ideas

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 1. Nature of Existence
14463 Existence can only be asserted of something described, not of something named [Russell]
     Full Idea: Existence can only be asserted of something described, not of something named.
     From: Bertrand Russell (Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy [1919], XVIII)
     A reaction: This is the motivation behind Russell's theory of definite descriptions, and epitomises the approach to ontology through language. Sounds wrong to me!
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence
5992 Chrysippus says action is the criterion for existence, which must be physical [Chrysippus, by Tieleman]
     Full Idea: Chrysippus regarded power to act and be acted upon as the criterion for existence or being - a test satisfied by bodies alone.
     From: report of Chrysippus (fragments/reports [c.240 BCE]) by Teun L. Tieleman - Chrysippus
     A reaction: This defines existence in terms of causation. Is he ruling out a priori a particle (say) which exists, but never interacts with anything? If so, he is inclining towards anti-realism.