Single Idea 23077

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / i. Deflating being]

Full Idea

Whether it is spoken by a grocer or a philosopher, the word 'being', apparently so rich, so tempting, so charged with significance, in fact means nothing at all; incredible that a man in his right mind can use it on any occasion whatever.

Gist of Idea

The word 'being' is very tempting, but in fact means nothing at all

Source

E.M. Cioran (The Trouble with Being Born [1973], 12)

Book Reference

Cioran,E.M.: 'The Trouble with Being Born', ed/tr. Richard Howard [Penguin 2012], p.166


A Reaction

I entirely agree. It resembles the redundancy view of 'true' (with which I do not agree).