THE RIDDLE OF EXISTENCE

Abstract

Various reasons (such as referential tautology) for holding that 'exists' is not a predicate of individuals but rather a quantifier or higher level predicate are criticized, partly by consideration of embedded clauses in indirect speech. existence as a predicate of individuals is explained, and also the existence of fictional entities, numbers, etcetera. but it is shown that criticisms of the ontological argument, which have been associated with the thesis that existence is not a predicate, can survive the rejection of that thesis and are still conclusive against, for example, plantinga's version of the argument.