EXISTENCE

EXISTENCE
   usually contrasted with ESSENCE in classical THEOLOGY and refers to the actuality in time and space of any subject, in contrast to its mere possibility or potentiality. In EXISTENTIALISM, the word "existence" refers to the unique way in which humans live their lives. Since the distinctive nature of human existence is choice of freedom, and freedom in turn cannot be defined as a "thing," Jean-Paul SARTRE has argued that "man has no essence" or "existence precedes essence."

Concise dictionary of Religion. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • existence — [ ɛgzistɑ̃s ] n. f. • XIVe; bas lat. existentia I ♦ 1 ♦ Philos. Le fait d être ou d exister, abstraction faite de ce qui est. ⇒ 2. être. Le Cogito de Descartes assure l homme de son existence. « Le sentiment de l existence dépouillé de toute… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • existence — existence, being, actuality are closely related in meaning but not always interchangeable. Existence is the inclusive term which designates the state or condition of anything regarded as occurring in space or time, as distinct and apart from all… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Existence — Ex*ist ence, n. [Cf. F. existence.] 1. The state of existing or being; actual possession of being; continuance in being; as, the existence of body and of soul in union; the separate existence of the soul; immortal existence. [1913 Webster] The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • existence — Existence. s. f. v. Estat de ce qui existe. L existence de Dieu. l existence des choses creées. tout ce qui est au monde tient son existence de Dieu. cela n est plus en existence …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • existence — index entity, life (period of existence), materiality (physical existence), reality, survival Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton …   Law dictionary

  • existence — late 14c., reality, from O.Fr. existence, from M.L. existentia/exsistentia, from existentem/exsistentem (nom. existens/exsistens) existent, prp. of L. existere/exsistere stand forth, appear, and, as a secondary meaning, exist, be; from ex …   Etymology dictionary

  • existence — [eg zis′təns, igzis′təns] n. [ME < OFr < ML existentia < prp. of L existere] 1. the act of existing; state or fact of being 2. continuance of being; life; living 3. occurrence; specific manifestation 4. a manner of existing, being, or… …   English World dictionary

  • existence — [n] life actuality, animation, being, breath, continuance, continuation, duration, endurance, entity, essence, hand one is dealt*, individuality, journey, lifing, permanence, perseverance, presence, rat race*, reality, real world*, something,… …   New thesaurus

  • existence — ► NOUN 1) the fact or state of existing. 2) a way of living. ORIGIN Latin existentia, from exsistere come into being …   English terms dictionary

  • Existence — For other uses, see Existence (disambiguation). Philosophy …   Wikipedia

  • Existence — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Existence (homonymie). L existence désigne le fait d être, d être de manière réelle. Sommaire 1 L existence en philosophie 1.1 L existence en métaphysique …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”