Single Idea 11008

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 1. Nature of Existence]

Full Idea

When Kant said that existence was not a property, what he meant was, according to Frege, that existence is not a first-order property - it is not a property of individuals but a property of properties, that the property has an instance.

Gist of Idea

Existence is not a first-order property, but the instantiation of a property

Source

report of Gottlob Frege (Begriffsschrift [1879]) by Stephen Read - Thinking About Logic Ch.5

Book Reference

Read,Stephen: 'Thinking About Logic' [OUP 1995], p.126


A Reaction

I doubt whether Kant meant that. He just meant that 'exists' doesn't function like 'is red'. Frege, a platonist, seems to think the property exists, with instantiation as a separate issue. I assume Kant doubted the reality of 'exists'.