Literary notes about Existence (AI summary)
The word “existence” in literature carries a rich and versatile meaning, oscillating between abstract philosophical inquiry and concrete depictions of life. Philosophers debate its significance by asking whether nature or substance has an inherent existence independent of our perception ([1], [2]), while narrative writers employ the term to evoke a character’s struggle to affirm life or identity—as in reflections on the fleeting nature of one’s being or the visceral fight to simply survive ([3], [4]). At the same time, “existence” serves to underscore both the tangible reality of historical artifacts or natural phenomena ([5]) and the often elusive presence of abstract ideals or emotions, prompting readers to ponder what it truly means to live.
- Should nature signify the existence of things in themselves, we could never cognise it either a priori or a posteriori .
— from Kant's Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics by Immanuel Kant - Our endeavour to reach, not the unconditioned causality, but the unconditioned existence, of substance.
— from The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant - If my existence was known, why was I detained in this gloomy Vault?
— from The Monk: A Romance by M. G. Lewis - To the last moment of my existence I shall remember him with feelings of thankfulness.
— from Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup - Considerable ruins of the ancient city are still in existence.
— from The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6) by the Elder Pliny
