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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Principles of Nature and Grace based on Reason' and 'Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times'

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7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 5. Reason for Existence
First: there must be reasons; Second: why anything at all?; Third: why this? [Leibniz]
     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?'
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Principles of Nature and Grace based on Reason [1714], §7)
     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.