Negative Entities: Modes of Being or Degrees of Being?

Abstract Negative entities such as holes, cavities, and shadows are metaphysically puzzling. Despite evidence supporting their existence, their nature as absences of positive entities raises questions about their ontological status. How can negative beings exist while differing fundamentally from positive entities? To address this issue, Kris McDaniel’s ontological pluralism offers a solution by granting negative entities “being by courtesy.” This article reviews McDaniel’s proposal, presents a challenge to it, and offers an alternative solution within the framework of ontological pluralism. The conclusion addresses an objection and provides a response, contributing to the ongoing debate about the metaphysical reality of negative entities.