What would it mean for it to have a fixed identity? If we say
that it is composed of subatomic particles , do these particles have a fixed identity? Let’s say a quark exists for a millisecond. Does it have an identity that endures for this span of time? — Joshs
1. What is the difference between a sweet, juicy, red apple and a sweet, juicy red apple that exists? The difference between a red apple and a green apple, or a sweet apple and a sour apple, is pretty clear. But explaining clearly what is added to an apple by existing...? — Banno
Wouldn't the difference be that one is an abstraction, subject to an individual perception, and the other an apple physically realized? — john27
2. It's not difficult to understand an apple that is not sweet, or an apple that is not red - but an apple that does not exist? What is it? — Banno
"an abstraction"...? What's that? What sort of thing is an abstraction? — Banno
"...an apple physically realized" is an apple. Is an apple that is not physically realised an apple? It might well be a thought about an apple, or an imagined apple, or a story about an apple, but is it an apple? — Banno
"subject to an individual perception..." Do you often see nonexistent apples? — Banno
The video could be considered the same thing as the real concert, but obviously its lacking something, which were physical properties that you could enjoy had you been there, had you entertained its physical existence. — john27
Existence is not like being a video, or a simulation, or a story. — Banno
Would you buy front-row tickets to a concert, with back stage pass and after-gig party, if the only catch was that it didn't exist? — Banno
Wouldn't this mean Harry Potter exists? It is just that he is no real person but a fictive figure."Ronald McDonald does not eat spinach" is not like ""Ronald McDonald does not exist". — Banno
If you imagine an apple then there surely is an imagination of an apple. I do not see inaccuracies of spoken language to be a problem. If you buy a painting of a dragon there must be an idea of what a dragon looks like.Do thoughts generate existence? — john27
J K Rowling is an author and Harry Potter is a magician. J K Rowling exists and Harry Potter doesn't. That's four things I've learned in total. In this case existence is very predicaty isn't it? — Cuthbert
This pencil is not a rocket. — Srap Tasmaner
Two predicates there and some existence. — Srap Tasmaner
Or are we saying he exists in one way in she in another? Or are we saying he’s one sort of thing and she another? — Srap Tasmaner
Does Erin Hunter exist? Someone writes the Warriors books, but not always the same person, and none of them are called “Erin Hunter”.
So Potter exists in one way - as a character - and Rowling in another - as the author. — Cuthbert
You have just given a very good account of the kind of existence that Erin Hunter has and doesn't have. — Cuthbert
Existence is a predicate. — Cuthbert
Pretending a pencil is a rocket is pretending something is a rocket... — Srap Tasmaner
No it isn’t. — Xtrix
Does the pencil as writing instrument have at least one existential attribute in common with the pencil as rocket? — ucarr
there may be some connection between being and pretending. — Srap Tasmaner
Is that what you have in mind? — Banno
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