Ci sono più cose di quelle che esistono? Essere, esistenza, identità a partire da van Inwagen

I shall consider the problem of the relationship between being, existence and identity according to the received view within analytic metaphysics: the “Frege-Russell-Quine” view. After a brief exposition of this view and of the problems that are typically connected with it, I shall analyze five theses that are accepted and defended by one of the most prominent philosophers who embrace the Quinean theory of existence and quantification: Peter van Inwagen. Finally, I shall dwell on some difficulties that seem to characterize van Inwagen’s theory, in particular with regard to the ontological status of fictional objects. I shall conclude that such difficulties (as well as some classical problems concerning the “Frege-Russell-Quine” view) are still left open.