“Why is there something rather than nothing?”
In order to attempt to answer the question, we must first examine the question more closely. We note that the questions asks for why, meaning, a reason of existence of something rather than nothing. That is completely different if we ask the question “Is there something rather than nothing?”. Whereas the latter questions if that something really exists, the former asks for a reason of its existence given the presumption that it really exists. Answering the latter question “Is there something rather than nothing?” will be totally pointless because indeed, things are and we are! Hence, any further explanation will result into answering why.
Moreover, the word is plays an important role in understanding the question too. Is basically denotes a particular instant of time: present. It brings us to the full consciousness of the right here, right now presence—to the presence of this text, the medium one is using in reading this text and you who are reading this text. Nevertheless, the question does not limit itself to the present time, as it also acknowledges the past and the future, both in conjunction to define the present. As an example, a pencil may be seen on the table at present, but that is only because someone has put it there in the past and possibly, someone will still find it there and use it in the future. In a deeper sense, is may point out to a concept, idea, physical object, movement, position, etc. depending on the context. But all paths will lead us back to the idea of existence, where is deeply grounds.
Furthermore, we must clearly identify too the difference between something and nothing, and their intimate relationship. Something is characterized by its existence, having unique properties that contribute to the totality of its being. Something is present and it can never be doubted or invalidated. Something affirms itself simply by its own presence. In contrast, nothing is the absence of something. We say absence, not opposite. Because if it were to be treated as the opposite, then, it will create two distinct poles where an intermediary point can be determined. But that is simply contradictory since either an object exists or it does not, and nothing can be defined in between. With nothing as absence of something, nothing becomes a part of Something, where it is intimately connected, where it participates for the richness of its greater whole.
The last statement shows that there is no point of arguing the existence of something rather than nothing, because in the first place, nothing belongs to Something. Thus, something always is and it can’t cannot be. This enables us to cut the question into “Why is there something?”, which will be a completely different question that requires another endeavor. As a glimpse into this new journey of questioning, one must be careful of realizing a reasonable starting point: in a strict sense, not ourselves. Nevertheless, this will still remain a question.
Even if we have pursued the question “Why is there something rather than nothing?”, the answer to this question will still remain as a mystery, as a personal lovingly struggle of finding one’s own purpose of existence in this world, or even beyond.
I like how you pointed out that nothing is actually part of something. From what I gathered, you meant that nothing is actually something of its own. If this is what you were driving at I agree with you. I guess nothing is the prelude or something that comes before something, but at the same time is something on its own already. My only questions for you is, what is the reasonable starting point for you?
ReplyDeleteYour blog post really helped me to understand more deeply the question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?", which is always brought up in class. It was nice that you broke it down word per word, and analyzed it one by one. Anyway, I think that aside from an awareness of our existence, the more important thing to ask is, what do I plan to do about it, or what does it mean to me? Like you said, it is a struggle to find our purpose for existence. I think that it is only when we realize who we are and what we have to offer that we will come to a full appreciation and understanding of exactly why we exist.
ReplyDeleteKathleen Sun (A)
Mr. Eduardo Calasanz, my professor in medieval philosophy, said that to refuse to answer the question of "Why is there something rather than nothing?" would be to refuse to do philosophy. That question is something that philosophers have tried to answer since the beginning of what we would call philosophy, even before it was named as a specific discipline.
ReplyDeleteAt least in my experience, it's a question that inspires wonder. It could lead to asking questions like, "Why is there anything at all?" and, as you pointed out, "Why am *I* here?" It also points to the fact of our contingency, the fact that our existence and even the manner of our existence is unnecessary. I need not be, and I need not be the way I am. I don't even need to be asking these questions.
Like any philosophical question, it's not something that will ever be answered definitively and with finality, but, as you also said, it's something we struggle with (lovingly).
- Veronica Jereza (C)
'Why is there something rather than nothing?" Is a question that can be approached from many different angles. A religious perspective would say God. A scientific perspective would say the Big Bang. I personally subscribe to the fact that, as my Sci10 class taught me, "we are beings made of stardust, dust brought to life". Our existence came as a process of millions and millions of years.
ReplyDeleteBut another way of looking at it is in our own point of view. The fact that we can see and feel the world, the fact that we are aware in the sense of being aware of our awareness, and we are afraid of death, that shows that we as human beings exist. We exist as a matter of circumstances, but that does not diminish the reality that we exist. There may be many alternate explanations for it, but the bottom line is: we exist. What's left is how we make the most of this existence and make it meaningful for ourselves and for others.
Miguel Co (A)