Aristotle on being: an Aristotelian critique of Russell’s theory of existence
Abstract
Aristotle explains existence through postulating essences that are intrinsic and perception
independent. I argue that his theory is more plausible than Hume’s and Russell’s
theories of existence. Russell modifies Hume’s theory because he wants to allow for the
existence of mathematical objects. However, Russell’s theory facilitates a problematic
collapse of ontology into epistemology, which has become a feature of much analytic
philosophy. This collapse obscures the nature of truth. Aristotle is to be praised for
starting with a clear account of ordinary objects rather than immediately reifying
mathematical objects. He thus allows us to have a coherent account of existence and
truth, and to easily resist collapsing ontology into epistemology.