Why is there something rather than nothing?
Leibniz's question (1714), perhaps the biggest of all. Naming a cause doesn't answer it, since any cause is one more thing. Answers: something exists necessarily and explains the rest; there is no reason - "the universe is just there" (Russell, 1948); or "nothing" was never a real possibility.
Depth 1 · Foundation
You can explain why the question is hard, and give three answers to it with the puzzle for each.
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Foundation
You can explain why the question is hard, and give three answers to it with the puzzle for each.
Your path here
What's still between you and Why is there something rather than nothing?, depth 1, in the order you can learn it.
- 1ClaimDepth 1 · Foundation · Logic
- 2ArgumentDepth 1 · Foundation · Logic
- 3ValidityDepth 1 · Foundation · Logic
- 4Deduction and inductionDepth 1 · Foundation · Logic
- 5Cause or coincidenceDepth 1 · Foundation · Logic
- 6CausationDepth 1 · Foundation · Metaphysics
- 7DeterminismDepth 1 · Foundation · Metaphysics
- 8Possible and necessaryDepth 1 · Foundation · Metaphysics
- 9Why is there something rather than nothing?Depth 1 · Foundation · Metaphysics