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    Kant demonstrated that existence is not a predicate that ... — Carmelics
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    Supports→The ontological argument for God's existence is unsound.

    Kant demonstrated that existence is not a predicate that adds to a concept's content, but merely posits the concept as instantiated.

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    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Adding 'exists' to a concept's definition doesn't change what the concept means—a 'real hundred dollars' has the same properties as an 'imagined hundred dollars'.
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    • 2.Positing instantiation avoids the regress problem: we don't need to define existence itself or ask what 'existing' predicate means.
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    • 3.Ontological arguments fail only if existence is not a predicate, making Kant's view necessary to reject proofs that God must exist conceptually.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Distinguishing 'positing as instantiated' from ordinary predication merely relocates the problem without solving it—positing is itself a relation requiring explanation.
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    • 2.Properties like 'being spatiotemporal' or 'being causally efficacious' seem to be genuine predicates that existence-claims necessarily involve.
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    • 3.Frege's logic can accommodate existence as a quantifier without Kant's distinction, making his thesis metaphysically unnecessary for modern philosophy.
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    Natural Theology1 linked

    Related

    Adding 'exists' to a concept's definition doesn't change what the concept means—...Distinguishing 'positing as instantiated' from ordinary predication merely reloc...Frege's logic can accommodate existence as a quantifier without Kant's distincti...Ontological arguments fail only if existence is not a predicate, making Kant's v...
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    Positing instantiation avoids the regress problem: we don't need to define exist...Properties like 'being spatiotemporal' or 'being causally efficacious' seem to b...The ontological argument for God's existence is unsound.

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