Why is there something, rather than nothing?

My friend and I were nailing philosophical questions left and right this afternoon to celebrate finishing our final exams, and got stuck on this one.

Thoughts?

9/11.

Yes. Why, instead of nothing, is there something. Universally speaking, why is there something when there could just as easily be nothing?

When done your final exams you and your friend discuss philisophical questions? I applaude you my friend.

This is all you'll ever need to know about such things.

Is that really a philosophical question? Don't you think that would be more mathematical or scientific?BranKetra

Is that really a philosophical question? Don't you think that would be more mathematical or scientific?BranKetra

In my case, I simply respond with one word: Jesus.

This passage explains why I say such

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]Is that really a philosophical question? Don't you think that would be more mathematical or scientific?mindstorm

In my case, I simply respond with one word: Jesus.

This passage explains why I say such

I don't think we'll ever find the answer to that one. It's kind of hard to even ponder because from the moment we're born, we're surrounded by existence. You'd have to un-learn all that conditioning to really think about the existence of non-existence.

How could it not exist?

It's a great question. Honestly, the only way it makes sense is if you remove time from the equasion.musicalmac

I asked this question of one of my deeply religious colleagues once, and he said "cause life would be quiet otherwise".

Doesn't exactly answer the question, but it sounds great :)

Such questions are on par with:

1. What happened before the Big Bang? Or what caused the Big Bang singularity?

Or...

2. Can something really come from nothing? Did Universe come from nothing?

3. Can something real be infinite?

And honestly I have no clue. Maybe we will never know the answer to such questions.

Is that really a philosophical question? Don't you think that would be more mathematical or scientific?BranKetra

It's a great question. Honestly, the only way it makes sense is if you remove time from the equasion.musicalmac

If there was nothing, there would be no-one to notice.

That's my answer.

If there was nothing, there would be no-one to notice.

That's my answer.

If there was nothing, there would be no-one to notice.

That's my answer.

If there was nothing, there would be no-one to notice.

That's my answer.

But is there really anything?Overlord93

Nothing and something are the same thing you need both there is no up without a down. I actually believe nothing is greater then something because nothing cant be defined.

Nothing and something are the same thing you need both there is no up without a down. I actually believe nothing is greater then something because nothing cant be defined.Legit1024

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]Is that really a philosophical question? Don't you think that would be more mathematical or scientific?mindstorm

In my case, I simply respond with one word: Jesus.

This passage explains why I say such

A flute without holes is not a flute.

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]

Is that really a philosophical question? Don't you think that would be more mathematical or scientific?BranKetra

In my case, I simply respond with one word: Jesus.

This passage explains why I say such

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]

[QUOTE="mindstorm"] Perhaps even religious given the perspective of the individual.

In my case, I simply respond with one word: Jesus.

This passage explains why I say such

Frame_Dragger

I think that's a pointless question.ghoklebutter

[QUOTE="ghoklebutter"]I think that's a pointless question.musicalmac

cuz its unanswerable

BossPerson

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]

cuz its unanswerable

musicalmac

What is nothing? Zeviander

[QUOTE="BossPerson"]

cuz its unanswerable

musicalmac

This is all you'll ever need to know about such things.

THE_DRUGGIE

My friend and I were nailing philosophical questions left and right this afternoon to celebrate finishing our final exams, and got stuck on this one.

Thoughts?

CaptainAhab13

I do not think that question can be answered with any reasonable degree of certainty.

Also, one could bring Einstein's Theory of Time into this argument and argue that there is no past, present or future -- everything exists simultaneously.

Or, one could also bring the theory of existence brought up in Borges's "The Garden of Forking Paths," which assumes that there are an infinite number of possibilities present in each moment, and that we simply, subsconsciously choose one of those instances to follow. The path that we choose defines our existence simply because that is the moment we are existing in -- the given time frame, the given spirit of the mind and body.

In any case, back to the question. ;) I firmly believe that the answer to this question has at least something to do with time. Even if one bring theology into it, such as creationism, there must be a before and an after creation.

[QUOTE="Overlord93"]But is there really anything?Frame_Dragger

[QUOTE="CaptainAhab13"]

My friend and I were nailing philosophical questions left and right this afternoon to celebrate finishing our final exams, and got stuck on this one.

Thoughts?

Jandurin