You want exists():
R> exists("somethingUnknown")
[1] FALSE
R> somethingUnknown <- 42
R> exists("somethingUnknown")
[1] TRUE
R>
You want exists():
R> exists("somethingUnknown")
[1] FALSE
R> somethingUnknown <- 42
R> exists("somethingUnknown")
[1] TRUE
R>