's for which it is true, or we may say "arguments satisfying
exist" This is the fundamental meaning of the word "existence." Other meanings are either derived from this, or embody mere confusion of thought. We may correctly say "men exist," meaning that "
is a man" is sometimes true. But if we make a pseudo-syllogism: "Men exist, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates exists," we are talking nonsense, since "Socrates" is not, like "men," merely an undetermined argument to a given propositional function. The fallacy is closely analogous to that of the argument: "Men are numerous, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is numerous." In this case it is obvious that the conclusion is nonsensical, but in the case of existence it is not obvious, for reasons which will appear more fully in the next chapter. For the present let us merely note the fact that, though it is correct to say "men exist," it is incorrect, or rather meaningless, to ascribe existence to a given particular
who happens to be a man. Generally, "terms satisfying
exist" means "