Existent: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "An '''existent''' is an irreducible primary, and thus can only be defined ostensively. A circular definition of existent, which will help indicate what I'm talking about, is that it is "something that exists, be it a thing, an attribute or an action."<ref>Rand, Ayn. ''Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology''. Penguin, 1990.</ref> == Examples == Look at something around you. That is an existent. Consider one of its properties, like its shape or location or color. Tha...") |
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"'''Existent'''" is a concept identifying an irreducible primary, and thus can only be defined ostensively. A circular definition of "existent," which will help indicate what I'm talking about, is that it is "something that exists, be it a thing, an attribute or an action."<ref>Rand, Ayn. ''Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology''. Penguin, 1990.</ref> | |||
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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Consider your memory of looking at that object. That is also an existent. | Consider your memory of looking at that object. That is also an existent. | ||
A purple flying elephant is not an existent. | A purple flying elephant is not an existent. However, the thought about a purple flying elephant that you had while reading the previous sentence, is an existent. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 02:54, 11 February 2024
"Existent" is a concept identifying an irreducible primary, and thus can only be defined ostensively. A circular definition of "existent," which will help indicate what I'm talking about, is that it is "something that exists, be it a thing, an attribute or an action."[1]
Examples
Look at something around you. That is an existent.
Consider one of its properties, like its shape or location or color. That is also an existent.
Consider your memory of looking at that object. That is also an existent.
A purple flying elephant is not an existent. However, the thought about a purple flying elephant that you had while reading the previous sentence, is an existent.
References
- ↑ Rand, Ayn. Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology. Penguin, 1990.