Final answer:
The concept of "existence" within the context of something we encounter but cannot will is most closely aligned with existentialism, a movement with key figures like Sartre and de Beauvoir, and is debated but not considered nonsensical in philosophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The definition of "existence" as "that which we encounter but cannot will" aligns with the philosophical tradition of existentialism. Prominent figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and his intellectual partner Simone de Beauvoir are associated with this stance, which differs from materialistic and idealistic perspectives. Sartre famously declared that "existence precedes essence," indicating that individuals first exist and then forge their identities through action and choices within the world they encounter. This view opposes the notion that existence is a predicate as argued by philosophers like Immanuel Kant.
Criticism of existentialism comes from various philosophical schools, including structuralists and post-structuralists, who engage in the exploration of language and symbols, as well as from postmodernists. However, the concept of existence and its definition in existentialist terms is an established topic within philosophical ontology and is not considered nonsensical.
Philosophical discourse continues to examine and debate these themes, embracing the complexity and divergent viewpoints inherent in the field.