Abstract in this context can be anything you can imagine, things like moral values (good, bad, right or wrong) or “mathematical entities”, or anything you can imagine at all in any way, from religion related concepts to fiction to Santa Claus to symbols to God to words.
From the dictionary : (Oxford Dictionary Online)
abstract
adjective
Pronunciation: /?abstrakt/
1existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence:
abstract concepts such as love or beauty
dealing with ideas rather than events:
the novel was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much attention
not based on a particular instance; theoretical:
we have been discussing the problem in a very abstract manner
(of a noun) denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object.
2relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but rather seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colours, and textures:
abstract pictures
Answer : it depends on how you define “exist”.
You can use mathematic method to answer that question.
A. Define
1. Define “Reality”.
a) Reality is defined as the domain in which matter and energy evolves.
or
b) Reality is defined as the domain in which “you” evolve.
(we would need to define “you” as well, but you might agree this would take pages and pages and isn’t necessary. It isn’t necessary because whatever definition of “you” you want to use, does not change the demonstration. Unless you define “you” as matter and energy which wouldn’t change the demonstration either, but simply make part of it redundant).
2. Define “exist”.
Exist is defined as being real.
Which means
a). Exist is defined as being composed of matter and energy (in reality)
or
b) Exist is defined as having the capacity to influence reality
3. Define the domain (Df)
Df = Reality (Remember, reality could be defined either as “a” or “b”)
4. Define the variables
X = anything abstract, but let’s take “abstract symbols used to quantify units” (math entities)
(abstract was defined in the introduction)
Does X exist in the domain?
That depends on whether you choose “a” or “b” in either the definition of reality or the definition of “existence”.
(that’s just a simplistic way of demonstrating it, but I think it works).
B. Demonstration :
1. If “exist” is defined as “a” and reality is defined as “a” then :
If X is composed of matter and/or energy AND reality is defined using matter and energy then X exists.
IF X is not composed of matter and./or energy AND reality is defined using matter and energy then X does not exist.
IF “abstract” = not composed of matter and/or energy then anything abstract does not exist by this definition.
2. If “exist” is defined as “b” and the reality is defined as either “a” or “b” then :
If X does not have the capacity to influence reality as defined by either the domain in which matter and energy evolves OR the domain in which “you” evolve (in both cases) then X does not exist.
If X has the capacity to influence reality as defined by either the domain in which matter and energy evolves OR the domain in which “you” evolve (in both cases) then X exists.
IF “abstract” = has the capacity to influence reality AND reality is defined as either the domain in which matter and energy evolves OR the domain in which “you” evolve (in both cases) then anything abstract exists.
C.1. Conclusion X does not exist :
for two reasons :
1. it is not composed of matter/energy
2. it is abstract (that’s redundant but it’s to show the principle).
C.2. Conclusion X exists.
Because X has the capacity to influence reality.
C. Conclusion
Depending on how you define “mathematical entities” and “existence” mathematical entities either exist or they don’t. Both perspectives are valid.
The way I see it, it’s quite simple really.
Isn’t it?
Broadening the subject from the conclusion :
Does this not make you think that maybe everything is simply a question of “defining” it? 🙂
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