exitance

Exitance is a philosophical term that designates the fact or state of existing. It is not widely used in modern philosophy and is generally encountered only in historical or specialized discussions of ontology and metaphysics. When it appears, exitance is introduced as a way to talk about being in the most basic sense, i.e., the mere fact that something is rather than what it is.

Scholars differ on whether exitance is simply a synonym for existence or a distinct technical notion. Some writers treat exitance as equivalent to existence—the bare presence of a thing in reality. Others distinguish exitance from essence or nature, using the term to emphasize the fact of being independent of the properties that define what a thing is. The exact distinction, when present, varies with author and philosophical tradition.

Etymology and usage: Exitance has appeared in English-language texts as an alternative or historical spelling related to existence. Because there is no universally accepted definition, its sense is largely determined by context. Today the term is generally considered obsolete or marginal, and modern discussions of being typically prefer “existence” or more specific ontological language.

See also: existence, ontology, metaphysics; notes: exitance may be encountered in translations or in discussions of medieval or early modern philosophy, where distinctions between existence and essence were commonly debated.