Why Does What Exists Exist? Some Hypotheses on the Ultimate “Why” Question

Edited By: Mariano L. Bianca, Paolo Piccari

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Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the origin of everything? For centuries, theology and metaphysics sought answers. Today, physics and cosmology join the search for a theory of everything. The papers in this volume offer contributions to this ultimate debate.

The combination of current cosmology, physical theories, ancient cosmogonies, theologies, and metaphysics poses three main questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does…

The combination of current cosmology, physical theories, ancient cosmogonies, theologies, and metaphysics poses three main questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does being take many forms? What is the origin of everything? Many different answers have been given in various different fields to these questions. In theological, creationist metaphysics, the only answer is the existence of a creator who has given rise not only to everything, but also to the laws that govern existence. Non-theological metaphysics, instead, has engaged in the determination of some first principles (archái), from which derives the reality in its various forms. Science, for a long time, evaded these questions, focusing instead on particular aspects of reality by formulating explanations of natural phenomena. In the course of their current development, physics (including quantum theory) and cosmology have posed questions concerning the origin of the whole universe and the reasons for its existence. They believe it is possible to formulate a theory of everything, just as metaphysical cosmologists and theologians thought. The papers collected in this volume offer interesting contributions to the debates surrounding this ultimate “why” question.

Mariano L. Bianca is Full Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Siena, Italy. He deals with metaphysics, ontology and philosophy of mind. His main publications include Rappresentazioni mentali e conoscenza (2005); La mente immaginale (2009); Etica, eugenica e futuro della specie umana (2011); La propria mente e il sé (2014); Epistemology of Ordinary Knowledge (co-edited with P. Piccari, 2015); The Nomiotic-Wave Theory of Mind and Inherent Logic (2017); and Eventualismo. Fondamenti di una metafisica eventuale (2020). He is co-editor of the journals Arkete and Anthropology and Philosophy.

Paolo Piccari is Associate Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Siena, Italy. He deals with ontology, metaphysics and political philosophy. His main publications include Giovan Battista Della Porta. Il filosofo, il retore e lo scienziato (2007); Forme e strutture della razionalità argomentativa (2008); Pensare il mondo. Saggio sui concetti empirici (2010); Realismo e antirealismo (co-edited with M. Bianca, 2011); Conoscenza ordinaria e senso comune (2011); Epistemology of Ordinary Knowledge (co-edited with M. L. Bianca, 2015); and Pensiero e realtà. Saggi filosofici (2018). He is co-editor of the journals Arkete and Anthropology and Philosophy.

Mariano L. Bianca, Fabio Minazzi, Roberta Lanfredini, Enrico Guglielminetti, Marco G. Giammarchi, Marina Christodoulou, Crister Nyberg, Paolo Rossi, Paolo Piccari, Konstantinos Boultzis, Maurizio Ferraris