Why is there anything rather than nothing?

Question

Why does anything at all exist? We don't regard existence as something, as it were, added to an already existent thing. But we do regard the existence of anything at all as something added to nothing. Such that we are perplexed that absolute nonexistence is not, as it were, reality. 'The world ought not to exist. There really should be nothing.'

Answer 1

The general view anything new coming into existence must be an addition to something that already existence is the commonsense view. The human mind cannot visualise that that something to which something else is added had come out of nothing. This goes against the fundamental assumption of logic and thinking. Nihilist currents of thought postulate that Existence came out of Non-existence(asto sat jayte) and eventually everythins will merge with non-existence(asat)leaving no trace back.The apparent world is interpreted as the doing(leela) of god.
There is ,however, another philosophical current which says that since something can never come out of nothing it is impossible that the world we see could have come out of a void. However, that does not mean thay accept the objective existence of the outer world. They dovetail the appearances with their basic assumption that Nothing Exist by saying that everything is only appearances Dr.S.Radhakrishnan in his Indian Philosophy has quoted a given logical argument. Supposing a man has the same dream every night for say where what he sees is way different from what he actually experiences during the wakeful state. The good doctor surmises that the boundaries between the real and the dream world would soon be obliterated and he may even come to honestly feel that he really lives only during his dreams and this world of rocks and earth which disturbs him is a nightmare. The Indian philosopher Shankara's doctim is that the world is in illusion.The scientific findings that all matter is in the final analysis is only electromagnetic forces which are invisible to human eyes(though measurable with sophisticated instruments) has been eagerly cited as final confirmation of Shankara's theory little realising that the invisibility or non-amenability to measurements did not justify the conclusion that they do not exist. This was countered by the existensialists by saying that since the movements of the electromagnetic waves are not amenable to measurement these must be taken as incontrovertible evidence of existence of god who created the world and is directing it sitting at the heart of the electromagnetic waves.However, with the development of sensitive instruments to measure these waves god was banished even from this final refuge.I know the concepts are rather confusing and with new findings the scientific theories have to be suitably reviewed. The scientists therefore cautiously say that not that they do not believe in god They have kept an open mind.Their only say is that his existence is not proved on the basis of the available evidence

Answer 2

This is a philosophy question, not a science question. Descartes would say that there is no way to tell that there IS actually anything out there other than that we can perceive it...that whole "I think therefore I am" bit...but that actually only refers to the perception of one's own body. Descartes actually had to punt to rationalize the existence of the world outside of one's own body by calling on the existence of God. The bottom lie is that we can actually never know that anything other than the fact that we can think actually exists. That's what made The Matrix such a fascinating conceptual film...the fact that these people trapped in the matrix believed that their world was real, but it actually only existed as a construct in their minds.

Answer 3

You are right. This is the problem with the concept of the "big bang" being a valid concept for the formation of our universe. Where did the original mass come from? In that matter is formed of electromagnetic energy, and this form or energy would have to be localized in order to form mass, how could it be done?

The people supporting the concept of evolution and the big bang, ignore the question you present as though it could have no bearing on the possible outcome.

Answer 4

To ask the question we must exist meaning there is something. Nothing does exist but its just not where we are.

Answer 5

Well, there can't be nothingness all the time. Think about chaos. There has to something at least some of the time. Just be glad you could be a part of it. I am. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Answer 6

Because Green Jello is jiggly.

Answer 7

Nothing IS everything.