The Term Existence
Terms and definitions are crucial for any topic of discussion.
I contend the terms and definitions presented within this ontology are more practical and more coherent than standard terms and definitions, specifically the term “existence”.
Standard definitions of existence are ambiguous and circular. They provide no means of substantiation.
Existence is commonly defined as:
Existence (noun)
- The fact or state of existing; being
(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition https://www.thefreedictionary.com/existence)
Existence (noun)
- the fact or state of existing; being
(Collins English Dictionary Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition https://www.thefreedictionary.com/existence)
Existence (noun)
- a : the state or fact of having being especially independently of human consciousness and as contrasted with nonexistence
(Existence. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/existence)
Existence is defined as being.
Being is defined as existence:
Being (noun)
- The state or quality of having existence
(American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition https://www.thefreedictionary.com/being)
Being (noun)
- the state or fact of existing; existence
(Collins English Dictionary Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition https://www.thefreedictionary.com/being)
Being (noun)
- a : the quality or state of having existence
(Being. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/being)
The terms and definitions are circular. Existence is being, being is existence. The terms form a circular loop.
If existence is being, and being existence, what is being or existence? They are undefined.
The ontology presented, however, precisely defines what existence is:
There is no circular loop. Existence is explicitly defined with a practical, coherent definition.
With the standard terms existence is ambiguous; existence is being which is existence.
With the term provided existence is defined; existence is that which is perceived or interacted with, at least in part.
Not only are the standard terms circular and ambiguous, they also fail to provide any substantiation of existence as the term presented here.
With the definition provided one could point to a tree, or any other thing, and declare existence. The tree would be perceived or interacted with substantiating it as existence.
One could see an object, touch a texture, hear a sound, smell a fragrance and easily declare existence. With the standard definitions one would likely be rather perplexed.
The dual-nature definition, involving both perception and interaction, frees the philosophy from a purely biological, conscious perspective of perception.
The philosophy presented not only offers a comprehensive foundational ontology it also offers clearer, more practical and more coherent definitions of key terms as illustrated here.
The standard terms are locked in a vacuous loop of abstraction. They serve to relate some distant ambiguity.
The definition provided maintains abstraction while also breaking free of the circularity of standard terms by grounding itself in concrete, real world examples through practical means of substantiation.