Philosophy Now Forum

...Is it possible for something to not exist?

By George, what a brilliant thought! Turn non-existence inside-out and there may actually be Something to it. Some kind of ontological essence - call it a desert storm - which must precede the formation of these types of questions.

Obvious Leo wrote:

Dubious wrote:

Obvious Leo wrote:The way we decode these neural mechanisms within the architecture of our consciousness has no such ontological currency.

Can't be true! I KNOW that Homer Simpson exists.

As always, for every sweeping generalisation there is always one outstanding exception. Homer as the ding an sich has a pleasing appeal to it.

I suppose that makes Bart a little dingy...

-Imp

Obvious Leo wrote:You cast me as the resident forum pedant, Hobbes, which is probably not unfair. I wouldn't call "to not exist" a split infinitive but merely an antonym for the verb "to exist".

Hobbes' Choice wrote:Anyway, I need to boldly go to another Forum!

Go boldly.

But the infinitive form of the verb is "to be", "not" is an adverb describing how you exist.. It seems reasonable to suggest that is you stick something between the 'to"and the 'be" then you are splitting the verb? It ought to be "not to be".
Well that was my reasoning.

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

Obvious Leo wrote:You cast me as the resident forum pedant, Hobbes, which is probably not unfair. I wouldn't call "to not exist" a split infinitive but merely an antonym for the verb "to exist".

Hobbes' Choice wrote:Anyway, I need to boldly go to another Forum!

Go boldly.

But the infinitive form of the verb is "to be", "not" is an adverb describing how you exist.. It seems reasonable to suggest that is you stick something between the 'to"and the 'be" then you are splitting the verb? It ought to be "not to be".
Well that was my reasoning.

Technically you're probably right, although semantically "not" seems to be an adverb in a different class.

The reason why the titular question is a nonsense one lies in its semantic circularity rather than in its colloquial use of an infinitive verb. Clearly "something" cannot "not exist" because if it didn't exist then it wouldn't be "something". A discussion such as this cannot meaningfully proceed without a prior common agreement on the definitions of the terms being used and in the OP question "something" is an inadequate referent for a question containing the verb "to exist", which itself has not been clearly defined.

No wonder everybody's taking the piss. This is the sort of shit question that gives philosophy a bad name.

This is about what is meant by the word "exist." The difference between a car and a unicorn is greater than the similarity. Therefore that is what "exist" refers to. By your thinking, everything that can be imagined exists.

This is about what is meant by the word "exist." The difference between a car and a unicorn is greater than the similarity. Therefore that is what "exist" refers to. By your thinking, everything that can be imagined exists. That causes the word "exist" to lose meaning.

Jaded Sage wrote:This is about what is meant by the word "exist." The difference between a car and a unicorn is greater than the similarity. Therefore that is what "exist" refers to. By your thinking, everything that can be imagined exists. That causes the word "exist" to lose meaning.

It was so bad you had to say it twice.

Yes. Consciousness. Would you like to debate this?

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

Jaded Sage wrote:This is about what is meant by the word "exist." The difference between a car and a unicorn is greater than the similarity. Therefore that is what "exist" refers to. By your thinking, everything that can be imagined exists. That causes the word "exist" to lose meaning.

It was so bad you had to say it twice.

Dude, don't mock him.

After I die, my bits are still extant. But my consciousness no longer is. It won't exist. Consciousness is not a physical thing. It is a byproduct of physical processes enabling it. Once those physical processes shut down and the matter disincorporates, it's just crap to be recycled, as it has been since early in the universe.

Jaded Sage wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:

Jaded Sage wrote:This is about what is meant by the word "exist." The difference between a car and a unicorn is greater than the similarity. Therefore that is what "exist" refers to. By your thinking, everything that can be imagined exists. That causes the word "exist" to lose meaning.

It was so bad you had to say it twice.

Dude, don't mock him.

It's called a joke.

Is it possible for something to not exist?

Yes, basic intellect, most on various philosophy fora will dispense nothing but nonsense and babble.

Dalek Prime wrote:After I die, my bits are still extant. But my consciousness no longer is. It won't exist. Consciousness is not a physical thing. It is a byproduct of physical processes enabling it. Once those physical processes shut down and the matter disincorporates, it's just crap to be recycled, as it has been since early in the universe.

Almost
When you die your "bits" stop working because cells don't get oxygen and the electrical activity in the brain ceases. Your consciousness is physical. It does not go somewhere else. It is what the brain does, when working properly.
In a similar way, when a car runs out of go juice the journey ends. Nevertheless the journey is physical.

HexHammer wrote:
Is it possible for something to not exist?
Yes, basic intellect, most on various philosophy fora will dispense nothing but nonsense and babble.

So you are claiming that the reason for your outburst is due to a lack of intellect. I thought it was for a positive reason: that you were a pr1ck!

Hobbes' Choice wrote:So you are claiming that the reason for your outburst is due to a lack of intellect. I thought it was for a positive reason: that you were a pr1ck!

Oh btw ..what kind of job did one such as you have?!? ..that's right you don't have any!!!! ..because your mentally very very far out!! ..all you say is nothing but nonsense and babble!!!

HexHammer wrote:

Hobbes' Choice wrote:So you are claiming that the reason for your outburst is due to a lack of intellect. I thought it was for a positive reason: that you were a pr1ck!

Oh btw ..what kind of job did one such as you have?!? ..that's right you don't have any!!!! ..because your mentally very very far out!! ..all you say is nothing but nonsense and babble!!!

I spent my time teaching morons like you to think.
For some it was a waste of time. You are a prime example, and think everything they have not taken the trouble to understand is just babble.