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Full Idea
The historical honour of having first raised the question "Why is there something rather than nothing?" belongs to Leibniz.
Gist of Idea
Leibniz first asked 'why is there something rather than nothing?'
Source
report of Gottfried Leibniz (On the Ultimate Origination of Things [1697]) by Dale Jacquette - Ontology Ch.3
Book Ref
Jacquette,Dale: 'Ontology' [Acumen 2002], p.89
A Reaction
I presume that people before Leibniz may well have had the thought, but not bothered to even articulate it, because there seemed nothing to say by way of answer, other than some reference to the inscrutable will of God.
Related Idea
Idea 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] |
| 5047 | The world is physically necessary, as its contrary would imply imperfection or moral absurdity [Leibniz] |
| 19343 | We follow the practical rule which always seeks maximum effect for minimum cost [Leibniz] |
| 19341 | There must be a straining towards existence in the essence of all possible things [Leibniz] |
| 19336 | Wisdom involves the desire to achieve perfection [Leibniz] |
| 19428 | Because something does exist, there must be a drive in possible things towards existence [Leibniz] |
| 19429 | The principle of determination in things obtains the greatest effect with the least effort [Leibniz] |