What It Means to Exist (Short version)

Let’s ask a basic question: what does it mean to exist? Some people say philosophy talks too much about things that don’t matter—like being, or existence—and that it’s just wordplay. But can we ignore such a big question?

Think of this: imagine you separate what something is from the fact that it exists. A cup, for example, has shape, texture, and material—that’s its essence. But the fact that the cup is right here in front of you? That’s its existence.

Now, if existence has nothing to do with essence, then it has no clear definition. And if something can’t be defined, it’s almost like saying it’s nothing. That’s the strange part—existence seems both real and undefined.

Old philosophies used the word transcendent for something that’s beyond normal life—but also for something deep inside it. So existence is like a mystery at the heart of everything, a spark that wakes things up and makes them real.

Some thinkers believe nothing exists without something greater—like a creative force or divine energy. But modern science disagrees, saying: if we can't measure or describe it, it doesn't count as real. That’s why science says existence alone isn’t something it can study.

Still, philosophy takes another route. What if a thing exists because we give it meaning?

The ancient Greeks had an idea: to exist is to have form. A red ball, for example, isn’t just color and shape—it’s a complete object in our mind. Its form returns to itself, and that’s what makes it real.

So here’s a simple thought:

Something exists because its shape repeats and confirms itself.

We relate to being in two main ways of engaging with what’s real:

• Giving shape and meaning to something

• Breaking or questioning that shape

In the end, science can’t fully explain being. But that doesn’t mean the topic should be ignored. Existence isn’t just a theory—it’s something we feel, something we try to understand.

We can’t define being precisely. But we can sense it, express it, respond to it.

It supports anyone who’s not just looking for facts, but also seeking personal clarity, direction, and a deeper sense of what life is all about.

Existence isn’t just finite, it’s unpredictable—and that’s where the real challenge lies, that’s the twist.