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'EXISTS' AND 'PREDICATE'
J. L. Shaw
The aim of this article is to show that the question whether 'exists' is a predicate cannot be answered unless we determine the meaning of the terms 'predicate' and 'exists'. Moreovere, we have to specify the meaning of certain other terms like 'subject', 'real', 'property', 'universal' etc. if we want to discuss this question satisfactorily. But most of the philosophers who have discussed this question did not specify the meaning of these terms clearly. As a result, the supporters of each view claimed to refute the view of their opponents when in fact these views are mutually compatible. I would like to show that in some sense 'exists' is a predicate and in some other sence "exists' is not a predicate.
Before developing my positive thesis I would like to discuss the prevalent views on this topic.
A. Arguments against 'exists' being a predicate :
1. If 'exists' is a predicate. then the ascription of existence or the denial of it would make some difference to the subject. Since neither the ascription nor the denial of existence makes any difference to the subject, 'exists' is not a predicate. This type of argument is present in Kant. This argument is based on a particular view of predicate.
2. If 'exists' is a predicate, then existence must be a what i.e. a quality of Reality. Since existence cannot be a what i.e. a quality of Reality, 'exists' is not a predicate. This type of argument has been put forward by some idealist philosophers. This argument is based on a certain conception of Reality and predicate.
3. Ayer, Wisdom and Broad have argued that if 'exists' is a predicato, then all positive existential propositions are analytic and all negative ones are self-contradictory. Since all positive existential propositions are not analytic and all negative ones are not self-contradictory, 'exists' is not a predicate.
This argument is based on a particular condition of attribution. According to the view criticized when we ascribe an atribute to a thing, we covertly assert that it exists.
4. If 'exists' is a predicate, then we can assert universal affirmative existential propositions and particular negative existential propositions. Since
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