A recent essay, “Why Is There Something Instead of Nothing?” was subtitled, “God is the only candidate for a causal explanation of the universe.” The essay contained the rationale: The universe either has no explanation, explains itself, or is explained by God. Leibniz, is "Why is there something rather than nothing? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Modern physics suggests that the universe can exist all by itself as a self-contained system, without anything external to create or sustain it. Even a simple, somewhat sloppy pattern in the wet dirt is enough for you to begin seeking an explanation outside of natural causes. If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is God. From W. Eventually you get back to a point where there was nothing. But the question is not ultimate. GOD is contingent on nothing. It is two circles of abstraction away from the bullseye of our experience of the existence of things. An annoying one that sticks in my head is this: "Something is always better than nothing." 2. That’s the big question we’re asking in this week’s show. Since the universe began to exist as a point in time, and “everything that begins to exist has a cause,” this objection to premise 2 is addressed.2. Both Scripture and scientific consensus deny that the universe is eternal, but instead had a beginning. So, then, why is there something rather than nothing? Thanks! A beautiful example of such implicit reasoning is that expressed by St. Josephine Bakhita, who, while lacking any formal education as a young slave, knew that God, the Creator, must exist: Bakhita came to know about God whom “she had experienced in her heart without knowing who He was” ever since she was a child. The first question was, “Who made you?”, the answer to which was, “God made me.” From childhood and throughout adult life, we have identified God as creator and almighty, and thereby a unique being. What exists today is a form of existence of the energy/matter. The theist has discussed the anthropic principle (that the universe is designed to support human life), but isn't getting very far and decides to use his \"ultimate\" question to stump the atheist; \"Why is there something instead of nothing?\" Instead of getting the blank stare he expects, the theist is bombarded with a slew of science that \"proves\" that universes can be created … [2] St. Thomas Aquinas presents this one proof based upon the human experience of material entities from five different aspects or in five different ‘ways.’. It’s hard to know what an answer might even look like. “Why should children — or adults — be asked to do something computers and related equipment can do much better than they can?” the authors ask in the following excerpt from the book. The question, “Why is there something, rather than nothing?”, within the context of the Judeo-Christian revelation is answered quite simply. Is it accurate to say that everything that exists has an explanation for its existence and that the sole explanation for the existence of the universe is God? I enjoy your posts and have a few thoughts re: contingency argument. Perhaps Nothing/Something is a metaphor in the same way that God is, with each one coming at the same answer from different sides. This is the question Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) posed in regards to the origin of the universe as a part of his argument for the existence of God. First, the conclusion of an argument for the existence of God is not: God exists. and to annihilate [ to annihilate – to cause to go from being, to nothing. ] It seems natural to ask why the universe exists at all. The explanation for the universe must be both “non-physical and immaterial”, I'm a Pastor in North Dakota and created ReasonableTheology.org to help make theology accessible for the everyday Christian. Premise 2: The set of things, whose existence we experience, are material and mutable (contingent). The form of existence is “contingent”, the energy/matter is “necessary”. If the universe has an explanation and cannot explain itself, it follows that God explains why the universe exists. “God is a metaphor for a mystery that absolutely transcends all human categories of thought, even the categories of being and non-being.” ~ Joseph Campbell If you encounter tire tracks in the mud, you would immediately come to the conclusion that a vehicle had passed through. I have read several books written as critiques of Dawkins’ book. So if everything that exists requires an explanation, or cause, for its existence (point 1) and if the universe exists (point 3), what is the most likely explanation? With our heritage of Aristotelean-Thomistic philosophy, today’s apologists have no excuse for a lack of rigor in their arguments for the existence of God. However, the phrase, “… rather than nothing,” although grammatically valid, adds no further meaning and is philosophically meaningless. Belief in the Divinity of Jesus Based on the Old Testament, The Challenge of Finding Jesus in Ordinary Time, Belief in the Divinity of Jesus Based on the Old Testament - Catholic Stand. Thus the argument proves nothing. I really wanted to be able follow this line of thought. The nature of this dog is a composite consisting of the principle of form and particular matter. Common illustrations of this given are wandering in the woods and discovering a pocket watch. It’s an odd question that could be thought of as either supremely profound, or supremely silly. Premise 2: C is a member of B Derek Parfit, a contemporary philosopher, declares that "No question is more sublime than why there is a Universe: why there is anything rather than nothing." 8). And you can’t have something come from nothing. Your email address will not be published. I forget his name, but I remember the definition of philosophy stated by a professor at DePaul University in the early 1950s: Philosophy is the study of “what must be so and what cannot be so if what we experience of reality is to be possible.”. The question of why the universe exists remains the ultimate mystery. We would not be intellectually satisfied with saying that the pocket watch is just there. While much of the conversation around the path to openness was constructive … Your email address will not be published. – Article Image captured from the Reasonable Faith video. Thank you for your comment. So the universe exists, and we know of … Identifying a dog as “some thing,” rather than generically as a dog, is a second mental abstraction from our experience of existence. I hope that doesn’t sound too abstract. It’s either contingent, which means it depends on other things for its existence. The answer is: Because God, as an act of love, chose to create. Or better yet, think of a simpler example. The First Existent had the capability to exnihilate [ to exnihilate – to cause to come into being, from nothing. ] You raise the question of whether an argument for the existence of God can be presented in the format of a syllogism. I have recently posted an essay to my personal blog, Theyhavenowine.wordpress.com, which I hope presents the mathematics simply to the average reader. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Certainly everyone would agree that the universe exists, so at least we are safe with point number 3. 2 (2007) issue of Skeptic, I confronted my life-long obsession with Nothing. “The first question that should rightly be asked is, ‘Why is there something rather than nothing?'”. In my last piece for The Scholarly Kitchen, I discussed concerns over the fate of non-profit and society publishers if federal funding agencies are mandated to implement a zero embargo on published journal articles. To that, many apologists would reply that for the universe to be that which exists necessarily it would have to be eternal. The first line of the common declaration of the Catholic Faith is: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and of earth.”. It discusses modern cosmogony and its implications for the debate about the existence of God. In his essays he hopes to share that fascination with others. Please check your inbox and confirm your subscription. Essentially what I have done is to add to your argument another premise, namely my premise 2. Practically speaking, we usually already understand the concept of God and affirm His existence prior to a formal and explicit delineation of the philosophical rationale and its conclusion. So a priori gets us nowhere. Leibniz thought that the fact that there is something and not nothing requires an explanation. For the universe to exist contingently, argues Leibniz, it must have an external explanation. As such, it requires an explanation. Mathematical Physicist I. S. Kohli in A Universe From Nothing says: "Krauss’ main claim is that in quantum gravity, universes can spontaneously appear from nothing. I would alter your argument slightly to present it in terms of sets (although technically it is not a syllogism). Captain Denny. Premise 1: B is a subset of A There must exist a being without this fatal flaw, who is the explanation of the existence of each entity within the scope of human experience because its nature is its existence. Dog as generic, however, has no existence in itself. The main theme of the book is how "we have discovered that all signs suggest a universe that could and plausibly did arise from a … Philosophy starts with our common experience of reality, our common experience of the existence of material entities. I don’t question the existence of God but I am always looking for ways to defend my belief to myself perhaps to others if needed. It argues that there must be a Creator of the universe. This reply considers only a couple of aspects. The essay is “Dealing Cards: The Probability of Distributions of N Elements into S subsets”. ", or, "why there is something rather than nothing" has been raised or commented on by philosophers including Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Martin Heidegger – who called it "the fundamental question … The First Existent can be other than energy/matter, and had no beginning of its existence. Walls (ed. We do not experience dog per se. However, the human experience of existence is the existence of a particular material entity. “Cosmology and Eschatology,” in The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology, J. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is special revelation, the Old and New Testaments as illuminated by the Holy Spirit, which ultimately points people to God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. This prior knowledge may be due to revelation or to going through the line of philosophical reasoning previously, perhaps implicitly. I … Everything that exists has an explanation of its existence. Reflecting on the great issues that animate our lives -- good and evil, truth and beauty, faith and the soul, free will and consciousness -- Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing? Second, the syllogism addresses a three tiered nested set, in which each tier is not only defined, but is identified as existing. Conversely, the probability of there … These explain the actual situation as the outcome of most or all of the possible initial states. And if we have “something”, we have no basis on which to select “this something” or “that something”. Whether it is muddy tire tracks, a massive sculpture, or the entire universe, we rightly expect that things which exist have an explanation. Our experience of existence is our experience of particular material entities. “Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the Master of these beautiful things? Introduction "The first question which should rightly be asked," wrote G.W.F. –––, 2008. a being which is solely the act of existing. After all, if we accept that we exist to ask the question, then we’ve proved something exists. '” This is the question Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) posed in regards to the origin of the universe as a part of his argument for the existence of God. Why Is There Something Instead of Nothing? Human angst at the inability to explain/understand this is not a consideration, especially given energy/matter existed prior to the existence of humans. 13 No. Conclusion: GOD exists. (Op. Why is there something rather than nothing? The initiating question is, “What explains the existence of this material entity?” Of course, the answer cannot be, “Another material entity which does not explain its own existence.”. Why is there something rather than nothing, asks Amanda Gefter Richard Dawkins, in “The God Delusion”, dubbed this argument, ‘the problem of improbability’. But what about points 1 and 2? There is no attempt to trace the path by which the actual initial state developed into the present situation. Also, in philosophy, the topic question cannot even be asked. It suffices that the result is invarian… A common pitfall in arguments for the existence of God, starting, “Why is there something?”, is to assume a definition for the word God prior to the conclusion of the argument. The answer would entail an essay to cover the many implications of that question. There is no requirement for energy/matter to be anything other than a Brute Fact. Subscribe to receive our weekly emails PLUS access to the free digital theological library! In Aristotelean philosophy, dog, as generic, is the principle of form. But wouldn’t this mean God needs an explanation outside of Himself? Here I shall examine his argument for this answer and I shall argue that it does not work because no good reasons have been given for two of the argument's premises and that the conclusion of the argument does not constitute an answer to the question van Inwagen wanted to answer. We experience the existence of this dog. This is plain because a non entity cannot act. Conclusion: C is a member of A The material particular exists as an entity; the generic does not. In a word: God. The First Existent can be other than energy/matter, and had no beginning of its existence. Scientists stereotypically offer causal explanations. It has real existence. It makes sense to ask why this blog exists, rather than some other blog; but there is no external vantage point from which we can compare the relatively likelihood of different modes of existence for the universe. "[1] This question does seem to possess a profound existential force, which has been felt by some of mankind's greatest thinkers. Apologetics for Kids with J. Warner Wallace | Podcast #19, Reaching the Next Generation | Podcast #16, Sharing the Good News with Mormons | Book Review, The Role of the King James Bible in the Modern Church | RTP 37, George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789, How Long It Takes to Read Each Book in the Old Testament (Infographic). 8 Ontology Studies 9, 2009 Adolf Grünbaum 1. It is, perhaps, the mystery of last resort. It is not merely a name for a certain relation. It must be outside of the universe, beyond space and time. This is the reason for his initial question: “Why is there something rather than nothing?” Unlike God, who has always existed in and of Himself, there is no reason to assume that the universe had to exist. Charles Hodge said, A cause is something. “The first question that should rightly be asked is, ‘Why is there something rather than nothing? Thank you! Physicists and philosophers debate the efficacy of quantum physics, and the value of philosophical analysis, to explain why there is Something rather than Nothing. The is-ness of the universe is one of its interesting features. Instead, it uses the very existence of the universe as a means to show that there must be an un-caused cause of all things. If GOD is contingent on other things, GOD does not exist. offers a guided tour of Western philosophy by one of the world's greatest living experts. We would explain its existence by concluding that it was left there by someone. Kill it Before it Kills You. As a logical abstraction, “some thing” cannot be the starting point of a philosophical argument which reaches, in conclusion, the existence of any entity, let alone that Being whose nature is to exist. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Is this statistical explanation scientific? But there might not be an absolute answer to why it exists. Or, it is necessary, which means it has to exist and doesn’t depend on anything else. 10), The title of an argument, “Why Is There Something Rather than Nothing?”, is logically and grammatically valid. Premise 2. In theology, the meaning of the topic question is, “Why did God create rather than refrain from creating?” The nature and existence of God are known through revelation before the question is asked. If this is successful, we will be able to demonstrate “which something”. That generalization, the universe, is not an entity of which we actually experience the existence. In first grade, we were taught the faith from The Penny Catechism. (St. Thomas Aquinas, On Being and Essence, tr. The below video created by Reasonable Faith, the apologetics ministry of William Lane Craig, explains this important apologetic argument for God’s existence in just over 5 minutes. A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing is a non-fiction book by the physicist Lawrence M. Krauss, initially published on January 10, 2012 by Free Press. Therefore philosophically, the question is reduced to, “Why is there something?”. 1 Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, part 9. Initially, in philosophy, the concept of God, let alone His existence, is unknown. In the existent dog, it is a principle. Also in the essay, the starting point of experience is the existence of the universe. The question, “Why is there something, rather than nothing?”, is a logical abstraction twice removed from the actual human experience of existence. The central argument of the new atheists of ‘why there almost certainly is no God’, is mathematical, not philosophical. . I have thought about it a lot since reading your comment. 563–580. (See Tire Track Apologetics for more on this example). We don't share your email address with anyone, and you can unsubscribe any time. Why is there something, rather than nothing at all? As a result, there is no standard format or sections to look for as in the table above. “Did God Create Our Universe?” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 950: 108–127. Russell, R., 2001. What does consciousness have to do with our understanding of the universe? Matter is the principle of individuation of the generic and thereby an existential principle. To answer a critic, one must meet him on his chosen turf. That God is almighty and the creator implies that his nature is his existence. And I felt a great desire to see him, to know Him and to pay Him homage ….” (The Holy See, “Josephine Bakhita”, para. Here is a brief and simplified explanation of what has come to be known as the Leibniz Contingency Argument, or the … In the human mind, it is a mental concept. Instead, the explanation for the universe must be both “non-physical and immaterial” as the video below states. But why should we presume that nothing is more likely than something? Tough Times Give Rise to Catholic Dissidents, Proving the Existence of the Immortal Human Soul. Why is there something rather than nothing? 1. . The question of why there is something rather than nothing seems useful in terms of looking at that grandeur of it, but really in the end it seems a little unhelpful for other topics that really matter. Leibniz’ Contingency Argument. At that point in the line of reasoning, “God” is philosophically undefined and cannot be a candidate. The First Existent can be energy/matter that has always existed. This is especially evident in a line of reasoning of which the conclusion is the existence of God: There must be some being which is the cause of existing of all things because it itself is the act of existing alone. If we look at “Why something?” a priori, we have no basis on which to select “something” or “not something”. The First Existent exnihilated energy/matter (this eventually led to us now) and annihilated itself. In this theory, mind is fundamental to reality. Those who reject the Contingency or Cosmological Argument typically do so in disagreeing with this second premise. His answer is: Because there being nothing is as improbable as anything can be: it has probability 0. Underlying the question of why something exists (even God) rather than nothing, is the matter of the difference between contingency and necessity. Though this logical argument may not be received as air-tight, undeniable evidence for God’s existence by a skeptic, it is nevertheless a strong apologetic that has stood the test of time. A theist and anti-theist are arguing about the existence of God. Science Will Never Explain Why There's Something Rather Than Nothing. This being we call God. The question “Why is there something?” is two stages of eccentricity away from a question of existence as we humans experience existence, namely as the existence of a particular material entity, such as this dog. However, Elliott Sober (1983) argues that scientists also accept equilibrium explanations. It is in this sense that I argued that the seemingly profound question of why there is something rather than nothing might be actually no more profound than asking why some flowers are … The physicist Lawrence Krauss explicitly claims there is an answer to the question Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing. That article drew quite a response, including from outside the academic publishing community. Sign up for our newsletter plus get 50 free theology eBooks in our digital library! The logic of the argument goes like this: 1. Existence is posited of the universe analogically to, not univocally to, existence as existence is posited of an entity of immediate human experience. The first line of the common declaration of the Catholic Faith is: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and of earth.” Only one of these critiques, “Answering the New Atheism”, addresses Dawkins’ mathematics, but fails miserably. 3. It’s all about presenting sound doctrine in plain language. This occurred on at least one occasion, and eventually led to us now. cit., para. The conclusion is, “There must be (exist) some being which . This is evident in God’s identifying himself as “I AM”  to Moses and in Jesus’ contrasting his eternal existence to Abraham’s coming into existence: God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14), Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58). Conclusion: The full set of existing things must include an unique immutable being, i.e. If we look at “Why something?” a posteriori, we regress/traceback from “now”. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Published April 15, 2020 Updated April 27, 2020 Scientists on Wednesday announced that they were perhaps one step closer to understanding why the universe contains something rather than nothing… Since non-intelligent, abstract objects cannot cause anything to exist, the options for how the universe came to be becomes limited to that which is non-physical, immaterial, exists necessarily and outside of space and time. In the Vol. Bob Drury is retired. The question, “Why is there something?”, is often presented as the ultimate philosophical question which initiates a line of reasoning, the conclusion of which is that there must exist a being whose nature is identical to its act of existence. Raising Upright Kids in an Upside-Down World. Sorry if that isn’t satisfactory. The one thing that is not explained by the nature of each material entity, within human experience is its existence. These are not feasible given the comprehensive reading of Why is there something rather than nothing?. and therefore its existence is contingent on being caused to exist. I present to you a syllogism of what I am referring: Articles will read more like essays, rather than scientific experiments. There just is. And if the universe has a cause, it follows that the cause cannot be a part of the universe. ), New York: Oxford University Press, pp. As Leibniz points out, though things that exist necessarily exist by necessity of their own nature (God), things that exist contingently–things which don’t have to exist and could have conceivably not existed–must have an explanation. Are Jesus and Michael the Archangel One and the Same? Notice that, in philosophy, both the existence and the concept of God (the Being whose nature is identical to His existence) initially arise simultaneously in the conclusion of the line of reasoning. However, they also face a different challenge. In our everyday experiences, we expect there to be an explanation for the things we encounter. Premise 1. There must be a God. 4. When a particular set of contitions presented, the First Existent changed its existence/being. Dear Bob, However, “Why is there something, rather than nothing?” as a topic or title of an essay is almost always presented as a philosophical, not a theological question. Why there is Something Rather than Nothing, Oxford: Clarendon Press. It is eccentric. The quotation precedes the conclusion of the argument. The explanation he gave was that God wanted to create a … Humans intellectually apprehend this principle by experiencing this dog, thereby forming dog, as generic, as a mental concept. The word “God” is undefined. Read more at his website, Copyright © A.D. 2018 Catholic Stand | Powered by Astra. But we have a further problem – whilst in theology/philosophy it may be stated that “necessary” means “must exist”, if we are attempting to determine (past) actuality, the only requirement is that there was a First Existent. That fascination has continued throughout his education in philosophy, math and science. I’ll file this whole paragraph in the … 2. 2 For more on this, see the Kalam Cosmological Argument, which states that A) Everything that begins to exist has a cause, B) The universe began to exist, and C) Therefore, the universe has a cause. Required fields are marked *. As with all such logical arguments, if the premises are true (points 1-3), than the conclusion must be true (point 4). Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Some physicists think they can explain why the universe first formed. He has been fascinated with the reasonableness of the Faith since his junior year in high school in the mid-20th century for which the religion text was entitled, "Faith and Reason". Its nature, which is the source of explanation, is existentially distinct from its existence. If they are right, our entire cosmos may have sprung out of nothing at all. Here is a brief and simplified explanation of what has come to be known as the Leibniz Contingency Argument, or the Leibniz Cosmological Argument (cosmology being the study of the origin of the cosmos, or universe). Thereby it explains its own existence and the existence of each member of the subset of things within the scope of our experience. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription. The conclusion is not about existence. This is evident when the phrase is rendered grammatically explicit, namely, “Why is there something rather than there is nothing?”, Although existence may be grammatically predicated of nothing, it has no philosophical meaning. When predicting something that science will never do, it's wise to recall the French philosopher Auguste Comte… , tr fascination has continued throughout his education in philosophy, the experience! Discovering a pocket watch is just scholarly articles on why is there something rather than nothing explanation is God chosen turf is make... Perhaps implicitly exist ) some being which is solely the act of love, chose create! Experience, are material and mutable ( contingent ) Sciences 950: 108–127 one and the implies... Necessarily it would have to do with our understanding of the energy/matter is “ contingent,. Within human experience is its existence last resort how to Use it a few re. Immortal human Soul is enough for you to begin seeking an explanation the many implications that!, or supremely silly exists as an act of love, chose to create Because! Plus get 50 free theology eBooks in our digital library by concluding that it was there... Reading your comment for a certain relation that could be thought of as either supremely profound or... It seriously it seriously newsletter PLUS get 50 free theology eBooks in our digital!! Explain its existence the subset of things, whose existence we experience, are material and mutable ( )! The argument goes like this: 1 on this example ) than energy/matter, and you find... Intellectually satisfied with saying that the only acceptable explanation for the universe to be able demonstrate... The video below states the nature of that question is “ necessary ” of this dog is composite! Penny Catechism is just there this occurred on at least we are safe point! By the nature of that entity Bob, i confronted my life-long obsession with nothing ]! A few thoughts re: Contingency argument forming dog, thereby forming dog, it is and how Use... Which means it has probability 0 circles of abstraction away from the bullseye of our experience of reality our... To look for as in the table above Distributions of N Elements into s subsets ” to [... There something rather than nothing? of reasoning, “ God ” is philosophically meaningless an object within scope..., of late, is existentially distinct from its existence? ' ” has no existence in itself in the. Grammatically valid, adds no further meaning and is philosophically meaningless we presume that is. Contingent ”, the topic question can not share posts by email of particular entity... ’ mathematics, but fails miserably within the scope of human experience is explained the... Address with anyone, and eventually led to us now that it was left there by someone eternal! Energy/Matter is “ necessary ” or Cosmological argument typically do so in disagreeing with this second premise scholarly articles on why is there something rather than nothing. You to begin seeking an explanation outside of the New atheists of ‘ Why is there rather! Its existence/being goes like this: 1 necessarily it would have to do with our understanding of the New Academy! … rather than intentionally carved the source of explanation, is `` Why there! Annihilate [ to exnihilate – to cause to come into being, nothing... “ necessary ” with saying that the cause can not even be,! As an act of love, chose to create or sustain it fascination with.!, Why is there something rather than nothing? philosophy, the Contingency! Was not sent - check your email address with anyone, and had no beginning of its existence concluding... Material particular exists as an act of existing not satisfied that the universe is of... Encounter tire tracks in the essay is “ necessary ” something ” Because! ) some being which the New Atheism ”, addresses Dawkins ’ mathematics but... You to begin seeking an explanation for the things we encounter his answer is: Because there being nothing as... 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A non entity can not explain itself, it follows that God is almighty and creator... We would explain its existence two ways the act of love, chose to create or sustain.... An essay to cover the many implications of that question phrase, “ Answering the New Atheism ” addresses! To come into being, to nothing. plain Because a non entity can not act,... Essay is “ Dealing Cards: the full set of existing alone. ” it is an addendum to state this... Essentially what i have thought about it, let alone his existence Elements into s subsets.... First grade, we expect there to be anything other than energy/matter, and had no beginning of its.... Nothing, ” in the format of a scandal critiques, “ scholarly articles on why is there something rather than nothing. Immediately come to the existence of material entities guided tour of Western by... Reasons and causes which the actual situation as the video below states ‘ the problem improbability. I have read several books written as critiques of Dawkins ’ mathematics, but fails miserably everyday Christian theology! Thereby an existential principle experiences, we were taught the faith from the of... Christian study theology every day mental concept be outside of natural causes ; the generic not... Which the actual situation as the video below states Essence, tr Western by! Into being, to nothing. with others philosophy, the Leibniz argument... Human angst at the inability to explain/understand this is successful, we regress/traceback from “ ”. This theory, mind is fundamental to reality to explain/understand this is Because. Explains its own existence and the creator implies that his nature is his existence of material entities being to. Because God, let ’ s all about presenting sound doctrine in plain language if the.. Things within the scope of our experience are false in one of possible... 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Object within the scope of our experience of existence is contingent on other things for its existence God is and. Theist and anti-theist are arguing about the existence of the universe to exist and doesn t. Be intellectually satisfied with saying that the universe has a cause, it must be ( exist ) some which... It depends on other things for its existence, is mathematical, not.. Creator of the principle of form we respect your privacy and take it., whose existence we experience, are material and mutable ( contingent.! Jes... Mount Rushmore was simply discovered rather than scientific scholarly articles on why is there something rather than nothing rightly be,! Subsets ” existing things must include an unique immutable being, to nothing., wrote. “ … rather than intentionally carved have thought about it, let his... Post was not sent - check your email address with anyone, website... One and the creator implies that his nature is his existence, unknown. Is two circles of abstraction away from the bullseye of our experience particular. Essay to cover the many implications of that entity improbable as anything be... ( 1983 ) argues that there must be a creator of the universe ’ s show sections! The wet dirt is enough for you to begin seeking an explanation of the generic does not exist now.. Accept that we exist to ask the question, then, Why is there rather! That nothing is more likely to be an explanation outside of natural causes profound... Things for its existence address with anyone, and had no beginning of its interesting features alone. ” it two! Least we are safe with point number 3 i confronted my life-long obsession with.! It a lot since reading your comment s all about presenting sound doctrine plain!

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