Leibniz on ens and existence
pp. 59-75
in: Wolfgang Spohn, Brian Skyrms, Bas C. van Fraassen (eds), Existence and explanation, Berlin, Springer, 1991Abstract
The issue of existence has been one of Karel Lambert's main philosophical concerns for more than two .decades. It constitutes the central motivating factor not only for his pioneering development of free logic but also for his less formal philosophical works.1 Moreover it was his Gastvortrag on existence once given at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Regensburg, West Germany, in the early 70ies that marks the beginning of our friendship, although, as Joe never failed to mention when introducing me to one of his colleagues, a critical remark of mine "destroyed' his then theory of inexistent, fictional objects. Therefore it will certainly not be inappropriate if my contribution to this Festschrift centers around the very issue of existence.
