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    Existence is not a predicate or perfection-making propert... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→God must be a metaphysically necessary being, one that cannot not exist.

    Existence is not a predicate or perfection-making property, as Kant argued in the Critique of Pure Reason.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Existence is a logical presupposition, not a property. 'The existent unicorn' adds nothing to 'unicorn' beyond asserting instantiation.
      ?

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    • 2.If existence were a perfection, non-existent objects would lack a perfection, making them imperfect in definition—logically incoherent.
      ?

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    • 3.Predicates describe qualities of things; existence determines whether there are things to describe. These are categorically different operations.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Existential quantification in logic (∃x) treats existence as a first-order predicate applicable to domains, undermining categorical distinction.
      ?

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    • 2.A necessary being's existence seems to constitute a real perfection distinguishing it from contingent beings—Kant's argument may oversimplify.
      ?

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    • 3.Modal distinctions (possible vs. actual) suggest existence adds something meaningful: actuality itself appears to be a substantive metaphysical status.
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    Related

    A necessary being's existence seems to constitute a real perfection distinguishi...Existence is a logical presupposition, not a property. 'The existent unicorn' ad...Existential quantification in logic (∃x) treats existence as a first-order predi...God must be a metaphysically necessary being, one that cannot not exist.
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    If existence were a perfection, non-existent objects would lack a perfection, ma...Modal distinctions (possible vs. actual) suggest existence adds something meanin...Predicates describe qualities of things; existence determines whether there are ...

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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