Was Existence Ever a Predicate?

E Morscher - Grazer Philosophische Studien, 1986 - brill.com
E Morscher
Grazer Philosophische Studien, 1986brill.com
The extensive recent discussion of non-existence and non-existent objects throws new light
on the old problem of existence. There is, however, still much to be learnt from the old
discussion of the question whether'exist'is a predicate. If, eg,'exist'were a predicate, shouldn't
it be just as easy for us to tell non-existent from existent objects as it is to tell the difference
between non-green and green objects? Moreover a close scrutiny of the traditional
discussion of this topic serves as a useful counterbalance to exaggerations and misleading …
The extensive recent discussion of non-existence and non-existent objects throws new light on the old problem of existence. There is, however, still much to be learnt from the old discussion of the question whether'exist'is a predicate. If, eg,'exist'were a predicate, shouldn't it be just as easy for us to tell non-existent from existent objects as it is to tell the difference between non-green and green objects? Moreover a close scrutiny of the traditional discussion of this topic serves as a useful counterbalance to exaggerations and misleading remarks which have arisen in contemporary discussion. So here I return to the old question whether'exist'is a predicate.*
brill.com