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Single Idea 5062
[filed under theme 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 5. Reason for Existence
]
Full Idea
We rise to metaphysics by saying 'nothing takes place without a reason', then asking 'why is there something rather than nothing?, and then 'why do things exist as they do?'
Gist of Idea
First: there must be reasons; Second: why anything at all?; Third: why this?
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (Principles of Nature and Grace based on Reason [1714], §7)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.199
A Reaction
Wonderful. This is what we pay philosophers for - to attempt to go to the heart of the mystery, and then start formulating the appropriate questions. The question of 'why this?' is the sweetest question. The first one seems a little intractable.
Related Idea
Idea 7696
Leibniz first asked 'why is there something rather than nothing?' [Leibniz, by Jacquette]
The
18 ideas
with the same theme
[why do things (or anything at all) exist?]:
458
|
Nothing could come out of nothing, and existence could never completely cease
[Empedocles]
|
1707
|
Maybe necessity and non-necessity are the first principles of ontology
[Aristotle]
|
17179
|
There must always be a reason or cause why some triangle does or does not exist
[Spinoza]
|
19400
|
Possibles demand existence, so as many of them as possible must actually exist
[Leibniz]
|
19401
|
God's sufficient reason for choosing reality is in the fitness or perfection of possibilities
[Leibniz]
|
5062
|
First: there must be reasons; Second: why anything at all?; Third: why this?
[Leibniz]
|
7696
|
Leibniz first asked 'why is there something rather than nothing?'
[Leibniz, by Jacquette]
|
19341
|
There must be a straining towards existence in the essence of all possible things
[Leibniz]
|
19428
|
Because something does exist, there must be a drive in possible things towards existence
[Leibniz]
|
3942
|
I do not believe in the existence of anything, if I see no reason to believe it
[Berkeley]
|
5646
|
Hegel gives an ontological proof of the existence of everything
[Hegel, by Scruton]
|
16007
|
I assume existence, rather than reasoning towards it
[Kierkegaard]
|
7692
|
Being is maximal consistency
[Jacquette]
|
7687
|
Existence is completeness and consistency
[Jacquette]
|
19662
|
It is necessarily contingent that there is one thing rather than another - so something must exist
[Meillassoux]
|
17320
|
Either p is true or not-p is true, so something is true, so something exists
[Liggins]
|
19482
|
Current physics says matter and antimatter should have reduced to light at the big bang
[New Sci.]
|
19483
|
CP violation shows a decay imbalance in matter and antimatter, leading to matter's dominance
[New Sci.]
|