Existence is pre-conceptual (and pre-lingual). The objects of reality exist whether you think about them or place them in a category. Philosophical realism is uncontroversial. But ask about the status of thought and second substance, we have varying opinions.

The standard definition of abstract entities (to which concepts and symbols belong) is that iff it:

1. has no spatiotemporal location
2. does not bring about effects
3. is imperceptible to the senses
4. yet thinkable.

(1) and (3) are straightforward. I can’t see abstract entities in reality. And if they are not in reality to be interacted with, then there are no effects (2). But thinkable (4).

So, is it an effect for something to be thinkable?

No effects. NO effects. NO EFFECTS. (I am thinking.)

So, I can disregard them without any consequences (without any effects). This is what the definition says and means. But I can think about it.

Thesis kind of like thinking about stealing something but not taking it. Or having seductive thoughts about someone but not going through with the motions. Or are we to take the Minority Report path and say thought itself is already a done crime.

I think it is safe to say that thoughts and acting within reality are different issues. Or clearer, thoughts about stealing and actually stealing something are different acts—the former is not a crime, the latter is a crime.

Thinking is an action. Expressing verbally is an action. Stealing is an action.

But let’s also talk about the passive act of observing or seeing. The symbol for a referent, the concept of a referent, and the referent itself are three separate entities. Two are created as representations, and one is existent.

Again, the referent-object has effects in reality. The symbolic-entity and conceptual-entity has no effects in reality.

As I had just shown, it is not symbols and concepts that harm, but people who use symbols and concepts that harm. People are objects. Do not mistake them for their concepts or symbols.

People as objects think “things” and say “things”. Thoughts and words do not harms directly. People do.

Deal with what affects you—matter. Deal with people as matter or object; do not deal with thought and words as pseudo-objects or pseudo-matter.