Why is there anything at all?

Abstract

It is argued that the question of why there is anything at all is a legitimate one and three putative answers to it are explored: the Theistic answer; Peter van Inwagen’s answer; and the Axiarchic answer. Objections to each are considered, but none of these is found to be decisive. Thus each emerges at the end of the discussion as possibly the correct answer. In the course of arguing this, it is shown that which we have most reason to believe is actually the correct answer depends on what reasons we have for or against believing in Theism.