Primacy of Existence: Difference between revisions

From Objectivism Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Reverted edit of Peta76, changed back to last version by 68.63.5.27)
No edit summary
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The essential principle of Objectivism: that reality is what it is, regardless of perception or desire (wishing does not make it so). The mind grasps the universe, it does not create it.
'''The Primacy of Existence''' is a corrolary of the basic [[axiom]]s of Objectivism that states: that [[reality]] is what it is, regardless of [[perception]] or desire (wishing does not make it so). The mind grasps the universe, it does not create it. In other words, ''Existence has primacy over consciousness.'' (Contrast to the [[Primacy of Consciousness]].)


In other words, ''Existence has primacy over consciousness.'' Any consciousness. Contrast [[Primacy of Consciousness]].
The Primacy of Existence is also the main and strongest reason for Objectivism's position of [[atheism]] in regards to religion, especially against Christian claims of a "creator god". The notion that the only thing in existence before the universe was a conscious entity is contradicted and easily disproved by the axiom, since a consciousness could not be aware without an existence to be aware of.
 
The Primacy of Existence can also be summed up by the expressions:  "Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed" or "Wishing won't make it so."
 
==Further Reading==
*[http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/primacy_of_existence_vs_primacy_of_consciousness.html "Primacy of Existence vs. Primacy of Consciousness" at the Ayn Rand Lexicon]
 
{{M_Nav}}
 
[[Category:Axiom]]

Latest revision as of 20:04, 8 December 2011

The Primacy of Existence is a corrolary of the basic axioms of Objectivism that states: that reality is what it is, regardless of perception or desire (wishing does not make it so). The mind grasps the universe, it does not create it. In other words, Existence has primacy over consciousness. (Contrast to the Primacy of Consciousness.)

The Primacy of Existence is also the main and strongest reason for Objectivism's position of atheism in regards to religion, especially against Christian claims of a "creator god". The notion that the only thing in existence before the universe was a conscious entity is contradicted and easily disproved by the axiom, since a consciousness could not be aware without an existence to be aware of.

The Primacy of Existence can also be summed up by the expressions: "Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed" or "Wishing won't make it so."

Further Reading

Metaphysics Topics
Axioms: Existence, Consciousness, IdentityCorollary: Causality, Primacy of Existence
Reality: Primacy of Existence, Existents, the Metaphysically Given versus the Man Made