ABSTRACT
InthisbookIshallinvestigatethequestion:'Whyistheresomethinginsteadof nothing?'Itisanextraordinaryquestion,rarelyaskedandrarelyanswered.Itdoes noteasilyariseinconversation,foritcannotbeopenlyandcheerfullydebated.Instead itappearsasakindofphantom,shroudedinmistanddarkness.Thequestionitself, eveninthecontextofaphilosophyclassroom,hasastrangeanddisquieting atmosphere.Itseemstocomefromthevoid,anditdependsuponthedreadfulcontrast betweenbeingandnothingness,raisingthepossibilityofknowingboth.Inaskingus toreflectuponthiscontrast,thisquestionliesattheextremeendofphilosophical inquiry,anditdeservestoberecognizedassuch.Transcendingallofthenormal conceptualstructuresandstandards,askingforanexplanationbeyondanyexplanatory framework,itseemsbothinescapableandincalculable.
