Explaining existence

Abstract

The fundamental problem of why something exists rather than nothing can be addressed by distinguishing between the existence of particulars and the existence of anything at all. Drawing on quantum cosmogonies, such as those proposing the Big Bang as a vacuum fluctuation, it is possible to construct a model where the emergence of particulars—including space and time—is explained through probabilistic laws. This “physics of nonexistence” treats the initial state not as a pre-existing vacuum, but as a condition where physical quantities such as mass and metrical structure are undefined or zero. In this framework, the transition to an existent state is governed by laws that assign probabilities to various outcomes, similar to the explanation of stochastic events in quantum mechanics. While this approach may require grounding laws in the existence of universals, it suggests that the existence of the spatiotemporal universe does not necessitate a prior particular cause. Ultimately, if the governing laws of nature are themselves necessary or self-subsuming, the contingency of existence is reconciled with a complete probabilistic explanation. Such a model pushes the boundaries of explanatory power, suggesting that the origin of all particulars is as explicable as any other law-governed physical phenomenon. – AI-generated abstract.