A question about axioms

[Leonid]

I agree with that.

I wondered why it is that Rand used the collective noun existence as the axiomatic concept instead of the singular existent. At my first thought it was mere stylistic flourish, the semi-poetic form of "Existence exists" and "A is A" being justification enough for Rand as a writer with style but this is not correct. Concept formation according to her theory requires at least two units, so the existence of multiple units is a prerequisite for conceptual consciousness to exist. So we have both "a consciousness conscious of nothing is not consciousness" and "a consciousness conscious of only one thing is not a conceptual consciousness". The fact of existence as a state or condition is axiomatic, but so equally is the plurality of existents.

The singular noun designates the singular unit "existent", the collective noun "existence" designates all possible existents. Concept of existence is formed by integration of two or more units of " existent" and omission of their measurement, that is-their numbers. Consciousness is a faculty of the certain living entities. The concept of consciousness is formed by the same way. The premise of primacy of existence you refer to is based on the very nature of consciousness which is a faculty of perceiving that which exists. Therefore the concept of consciousness divorced from the concept of existence is meaningless, floating abstraction.. Without existence what one should be conscious of ? Some people would response-of itself. Ayn Rand would argue that this is quite impossible-consciousness which conscious primary of itself is contradiction in terms. The concepts of existence and consciousness are axiomatic, the concept of existent, as a singular unit is self-evident, which is not the same. Axiomatic is a term of logic and means an irreducible proposition which cannot be proved by means of analysis because all means of proof depend on this proposition. For example the proposition of validity of senses is axiomatic-in order to refute it one has to accept it. As a result of this axiomatic status all percepts are self-evident. Existence implied in every percept-one can perceive only that what exists, therefore the concept of existent could be proved by reduction to percepts. The concept of existence is irreducible since it pertains to everything which exist, including mental content, all other concepts, entities which never been and maybe never will be directly observable -like electrons, principles, high abstractions etc...

Edited February 4, 2012 by Leonid