# Do invisible pink unicorns exist ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 21, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739 "2003-08-21T18:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silly-Beppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Silly-Beppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly-Beppo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/1 "2003-08-21T18:29:04Z")
This may sound silly, and I may be confusing myself for absolutely no reason at all. Perhaps someone else could shed some light on this for me. Do invisible pink unicorns exist… sound silly well yes but if they do not exist then why do I have any idea of what an invisible pink unicorn is ? ( a unicorn ( wich is a mythological beast that looks like a horse with a horn coming from its head ) that is evolutionarirly disadvantaged by being pink who however has made up for this fact by being invisible) Now you may so what that is all in your head I say yes so what the concept is in my head therefore it exists as a concept. Now here is where i get to the meat of my question. looking up the definition of Nothing here is what I find Main Entry: nothing Function: noun Date: 1535 1 a : something that does not exist All I want to know is how can something not exist or how can somthing be so contradictory ie. nothing does exist ??? My head hurts now… ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/2 "2003-08-21T18:36:53Z")
No they don’t exist. An invisible unicorn might exist, as well as a pink unicorn, but an invisible pink one cannot exist. Now if it were wearing a scarlet shirt of deep forest green you might have something. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/3 "2003-08-21T18:37:44Z")
Yes, they do exist. One posted here as proof. It was called **Invisible Pink Unicorn**. Its was of course swiftly banned. Its post were subsequently deleted, so there’s no evidence. _(Xpt, you can’t register as **Invisible Pink Unicorn**. I betcha. )_ It’s a plot you see. Just ask **Scylla** , the mythological monster. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/4 "2003-08-21T18:55:00Z")
Here it is. Click on the picture to enlarge it. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/5 "2003-08-21T19:08:49Z")
Say the IPU exists, and you believe in her. Then you get pizza throughout eternity. Say she exists, and you don’t. Then you get gored by her holy horn, and tromped by her holy hooves forever. (And she is mad at you also.) Now if she doesn’t exist, and you don’t believe no problem. No problem if you do believe, since there isn’t even a church to tithe you. Clearly, it makes sense to believe - and who cares if she exists. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/6 "2003-08-21T19:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NotMrKnowItAll \* > \*\*Now if it were wearing a scarlet shirt of deep forest green you might have something. \*\* Sorry, but you seem to be confusing things. The invisible unicorn need not _wear_ deep forest green. It must _be_ in a deep green forest (or deep in a green forest). Preferably be falling or sh\*tting. What was the question again? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/7 "2003-08-21T19:38:44Z")
OK-- but why is everyone treating this question as a joke? If someone asked “Does God Exist?” a serious discussion with much emotion on both sides would ensue. Why does a question about one made-up (as far as we know) being deserve any more solemness and seriousness than a discussion about any other made-up (AFAWK) being? ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/8 "2003-08-21T19:58:39Z")
Well, for one thing, the Invisible Pink Unicorn appears to be something like a running joke around these parts of the Internet. Another thing is that while the first half of the OP is only slightly confused, the last half (starting with ‘looking up the definition’ looks like it veers to loony-land. That makes it seem more worthwhile to first joke about it, until the OP makes clear that he is serious. I’ve seen to many GD’s started, then me and others putting an effort in for a serious answer, and never hearing from the OP again. That’s rather demotivating, lemme tell ya. Much more fun to simply joke around until the OP returns. If you want a quick and dirty answer: Syllogism A - OP says a unicorn is a mythological beast (which I agree with) - mythological beasts by definition don’t exist - _ergo_ unicorns don’t exist Syllogism B - unicorns don’t exist - an Invisible Pink Unicorn is a unicorn - _ergo_ Invisible Pink Unicorns don’t exist Voila. Or Q.E.D. Or whatever. I know the OP is asking for something else, but I’d have to crack open my Locke to answer that and he hates being bothered at this time of day. ---
**Author:** ![Silly-Beppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Silly-Beppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly-Beppo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/9 "2003-08-21T19:59:00Z")
Yes, one of my friends turned me onto the place. He told me of all the great minds that hang out here. I have posted twice, and in the first one I’m somehow missing something because the replies have dwindled to name calling, and attacks on my intelligence. This my second post, coming as a result of the first ( which was about " Does god exist " and here nobody cares take it at all seriously. I suppose I will have to take these and other things I would like to discuss elsewhere. I will wait and see what transpires for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/10 "2003-08-21T20:00:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silly-Beppo \* > \*\*Now you may so what that is all in your head > > I say yes so what the concept is in my head therefore it exists as a concept.\*\* Is there a purple brick on the floor somewhere around you? Because I just imagined you being struck in the head by a purple brick. Since it is all in my head, the concept is in my head and the brick therefore exists as a concept. Therefore it exists. Please mail the brick to me: js\_africanus 123 Fake St. Rural, MI 49686 After receiving the brick, I will mail the IPU to you. Until then, let it stand that the idea of a thing is not the thing itself. The idea of my purple brick (specifically, the one that struck your head) is not a purple brick (striking your head), it is an idea–nothing more, nothing less. ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/11 "2003-08-21T20:06:05Z")
Well, there the OP is. Allright, a serious answer. We seem to agree that IPU’s don’t actually exist, right? (no offense to the people of the Church of IPU’s, or COI for short) So there’s no debate at that point. Then you say it exists in your head as a concept. Well, if you say so, who am I to dispute you? Again, no debate here. What you actually mean to ask (but I’m guessing here) is: I’ve had a conversation with someone who said that the concept of an IPU is incoherent and therefore cannot and does not exist, but since I’m thinking of an IPU, the concept does exist, doesn’t it? If that is your question, we can have a debate about existence, essence, ideas and what not. But since your OP was not phrased very clearly I’m still not sure that this is what you want to debate or ask. It may well be that you find it difficult to phrase your question propery. But combined with your user name, that doesn’t exactly encourage meaningful debate. There are a couple of people around who deliberately post stupid questions, so I hope you understand that we have become a bit weary around here. 🙂 As you can see, I still haven’t responded to your question, since I haven’t had confirmation yet that this actually is your question. ---
**Author:** ![Silly-Beppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Silly-Beppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly-Beppo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/12 "2003-08-21T20:11:32Z")
Aaack Ok my point is being lost again… I’ll try and bring it back. I looked up mythological---- the definition steers you to mythical Mythical definition: Main Entry: myth·i·cal Pronunciation: 'mith-i-k&l Variant(s): or myth·ic /-ik/ Function: adjective Date: 1669 1 : based on or described in a myth especially as contrasted with history 2 usually mythical : existing only in the imagination : FICTITIOUS, Ok now is Websters incorrect or does it say “existing” I’m not arguing where it exists only that it does at all. Dictionary says it does. In my head yes… so what Now on to the philosophical part… forget the unicorn for a moment and look at the definition of “Nothing” I am saying that as long as something is a concept it does exist…if only as a concept or thought in my mind. Now how is it that " nothing " defined as something that does not exist - exist ? even as a concept ? For if you tell me that a concept or thought doesn’t really exist, than aren’t you tearing up the fabric of reality? I’m not being a jerk, and I’m not trying to get into some sophist thingy here. I haven’t gone to college, and I have nothing else to go on other than logic here… ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/13 "2003-08-21T20:13:38Z")
A skeptic checks all the drawers. ---
**Author:** ![Silly-Beppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Silly-Beppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly-Beppo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/14 "2003-08-21T20:19:19Z")
I undesrtand the difference between exist and existence it seems some other people here do not. Before we can begin to have a meaningful discussion some things need to be straightened out. Namely the difference between the two. JS… I question the existence of your purple brick, however I do believe that it exists. Bummer, without this point I am afraid I will never get anywhere… ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/15 "2003-08-21T20:26:04Z")
I think Webster has a poor definition. How about: “Nothing is the absence of anything and everything” ---
**Author:** ![Silly-Beppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Silly-Beppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly-Beppo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/16 "2003-08-21T20:30:53Z")
You are still defining it therefore it exists… I guess where I am leaning here " Is nothing possible " I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/17 "2003-08-21T20:31:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silly-Beppo \* > \*\*I am saying that as long as something is a concept it does exist…if only as a concept or thought in my mind. \*\* Then get some stiches and mail my purple brick to me. It’s right there, next to you. You can’t miss it. It is a particularly noticable shade of purple. If you clap three times it will squawk like a domesticated fowl. I’m imagining it, therefore it does exist. Why don’t you see it? Why isn’t it there next to you? Either the concept is not in my head, or the existence of a concept or thought does not imply (force?) the actual existence of the object of the thought. Clearly, I the concept of the purple brick that just struck you in the head exists, otherwise I couldn’t be typing about it, so I can only conclude that the existence of the thought does not imply the existence of the object. You know that painting This is Not a Pipe? It’s a painting of a pipe. But the painting is not a pipe. It is a painting of a pipe. Indeed! it may merely be the painting of the concept of a pipe. There is no Egg-Boy. But there is, on my notes made during the last staff meeting, a drawing of Egg-Boy robbing a bank. You merely assert that an object must exist because the concept of it exists. Why should I think that’s true? Where’s Egg-Boy? Where’s that brick you just got hit in the head with? Where’s god? ---
**Author:** ![Silly-Beppo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Silly-Beppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly-Beppo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/18 "2003-08-21T20:33:18Z")
Look at it this way in mathematics 0 essentially equals nothing. However without 0 our math falls apart so it is something… ---
**Author:** ![transitionality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@transitionality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/transitionality)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/19 "2003-08-21T20:33:39Z")
Invisible pink unicorns do not exist. The concept of invisible pink unicorns exist. The concept of invisible pink unicorns is not _true_ – which is to say that they do not correspond with the state of reality, and what your friend means by _incoherent_ – but the concept is _valid_ – which is to say that it is logically self-consistent and also consistent with the axioms of predicate / propositional calculus. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739/20 "2003-08-21T20:41:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silly-Beppo \* > \*\*I undesrtand the difference between exist and existence it seems some other people here do not. \*\* Well, thanks for explaining it. Existence: The fact or state of existing Exist: To have actual being; be real If it exists because it is defined, then it has existence since existence is the fact or state of existing. Therefore the purple brick has existence. Produce it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-invisible-pink-unicorns-exist/196739.md?page=2)