What causes existence?

Answer 1

Theologians will immediately snap the response 'god causes Existence.' This may or may not be truth depending upon your perception of the appropriate definition of commonly used (and commonly defined) words.

One may argue that the concept of 'god' is itself equal to the concept of 'Existence' [both of which cannot be specifically proven/defined without understanding the concept of 'faith' (which is, essentially, an assumed belief in something which may or may not exist)]. To believe that Existence actually occurs, one must have faith in the proof of their perceptions of Existence.

To be clear, faith does not cause Existence. The choice to want to choose to want (possibly infinitely) is what causes Existence. Faith is simply the medium of 'proof' that will of choice requires to perceive the conceptual Existence.

"Ridiculous! Inanimate objects can't choose!" you might say. Consider the limited senses and perceptions of humans' knowledge of the composition of atomic nuclei. Our own limited perceptions have proven to us that nothing within Existence is inanimate. Our limitations restrict our understandings of Existence and all entities about it (large and small).

The above is only more theory. Beyond the theories nothing is certain.

Existence occurs because it chooses to occur.

-MindUrThoughts

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The need to isolate any kind of ultimate cause could be seen as a particularly medieval way of thinking. There may be some usefulness to the question for thinkers interested in philosophy, theology, or even the history of science. From the point of view of experimental and even theoretical science, it is not likely that the question can ever have a completely satisfying answer, and so its usefulness is limited. It might be more useful to ask questions like: "What is that?" "How does that work?" "What came before that?" "What is likely to follow?"

-emdrgreg

_____________________________________ It is possible that the answer to this question might be found by the contemplative and reflective individual if he considers this: Some people look at things and ask, "Why?" I look at things and ask, "Why not?" -QuirkyQuantumMechanic

Answer 2

Existence is caused by the intricate interplay of various factors, such as physical laws, chance events, biological evolution, and the fundamental properties of the universe. The origins of existence are still a topic of debate and exploration in fields such as cosmology, philosophy, and theology.