The Concept of existence
existence is defined as the state of being or having objective reality. Within philosophy, the study of existence is categorized under ontology and metaphysics. Rene-Descartes famously established the certainty of existence through the act of thinking, coining the phrase 'Cogito, ergo sum'. Later, Immanuel-Kant challenged traditional views by suggesting that existence is not a predicate, meaning that asserting something exists does not add to its conceptual definition.
In the 20th century, the movement of existentialism, led by figures like Jean-Paul-Sartre and Albert-Camus, focused on the individual experience of being. Jean-Paul-Sartre argued that for humans, existence precedes essence, meaning individuals define their own nature through their actions and choices. Modern discussions also involve cosmology and the nature of reality, questioning whether the universe is a physical entity or a mathematical structure. For further academic study, visit the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy or the Britannica entry on the topic.