The significance of the word "existence"

Abstract

The word "existence" and its verbal forms as it occurs in ordinary language is used in a variety of ways. It would be a mistake to suggest that a complete examination of its overtones is either essential or especially valuable for the metaphysics in which it is the vital term. This essay is concerned to clarify the peculiar core of meaning which is certainly of vital importance for such philosophical enquiry. In the process of clarification it is hoped that some of the errors will be exposed that have led to an unsound metaphysics through an over-assiduous effort to handle the word "exists", as well as some of those errors in the interpretation of statements in which the word occurs which have led to a rejection of metaphysics altogether. It is the ultimate purpose of this essay to emphasise and support the views of those who attempt to show how an appreciation of the true meaning of the word promotes in the very least a fruitful understanding of genuine basic metaphysical problems.