Essence vs. Existence

Essence refers to the fundamental nature or what something is—its defining qualities, purpose, or the idea behind its existence. Existence, on the other hand, is about whether something is actually present or has being in reality. Think of essence as the concept of a chair—its purpose and key features—while existence is the fact that a particular chair exists in the physical world. The philosophical debate explores whether essence can exist independently of existence or if something's existence is necessary for its essence to be meaningful or actualized.