Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-11-14]: Does the hero Ten-Ten actually exist? A child’s question someone might say. But this question (i.e. what “exists”, what is “real”) troubles philosophers for thousands of years. Let us think this question along with a similar one: Does Aristotle exist? Let us see what do we have as “data” for these two persons. First of all we have writings referring to them. Secondly we have movies referring to them. Then we have persons believing they are real (yes, ask a kid if Ten Ten exists). So when you analyze the question “objectively”, both persons “exist”. There is no essential difference between the “existence” of these two persons. And when it is difficult to define something (like “time”, “existence” et cetera), then maybe the answer is too simple to see”: maybe what it is difficult to define simply does not exist! Maybe there is no distinction at all between “real” and “fake” as in the days of Homer…(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective...
