What is existential dependence?

Answer 1

Existential dependence refers to a relationship between entities where the existence of one entity is contingent upon the existence of another. In other words, an entity A is said to existentially depend on entity B if A cannot exist without B. This concept is often discussed in metaphysics and philosophy, particularly in the context of substance and attribute relationships. For example, a specific tree depends existentially on the soil and environment in which it grows.