A widely noted problem for this way of drawing the distinction is that it makes existence into an essential property of each object, since no object could lack existence and yet exist.
But however much they differ, they all try to accommodate what seems to be an intuitive datum facing philosophers who theorize about fictional entities: these entities lack existence, or at least existence as ordinary physical objects.
Descartes argues that there is no less contradiction in conceiving a supremely perfect being who lacks existence than there is in conceiving a triangle whose interior angles do not sum to 180 degrees.
The chief reason given for the strengthening (Cameron 2008, 2010) is this: if the Ks are not fundamental entities, if they lack real existence, then a theory can entail that Ks exist without thereby incurring ontological commitment to Ks.
And furthermore, in lacking independent existence, they presuppose something else something belonging to a distinct category, something which does have an independent existence and in which they need to be instantiated.
To put it briefly, though I lack corporeal existence, you would be exceedingly foolish not to heed what I say.
For an X that lacks real existence is not that than which no greater can be conceived.
Nowadays, in power systems, we still lack the existence of standardized test systems that can be used to benchmark the performance and solution quality of proposed optimization techniques.
In the Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikās; hereafter MMK), Nāgārjuna extends the notion that phenomena lack intrinsic existence (svabhāva) to apply to the self, which is usually conceived in dependence upon the five aggregates (MMK, IX, 12).
While pedological and palynological data are lacking, the existence of grassland (rather than woodland) savannah, flat topography, sandy soils and numerous temporary lakes in that area lead us to speculate that an extensive region of the south-eastern part of the Chefu basin may have been continuously flooded during wetter climatic periods and formed an effective barrier to N. furzeri dispersal.
