The Ultimate Why Question: Why Is There Anything at All Rather than Nothing Whatsoever? (Studies in Philosophy and the History of Philosophy)

This volume gathers studies by prominent scholars and philosophers about the question how have major figures from the history of philosophy, and some contemporary philosophers, addressed "the ultimate why question": why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever? The authors take this question seriously, striving to go beyond accounting for the present state of reality as distinguished from a prior or subsequent state, to the more profound question of discerning why anything whatsoever exists. The responses are varied: Lloyd P. Gerson considers Greek philosophy, and May Sim examines Chinese philosophy. Jon McGinnis explores a leading medieval Muslim philosopher, Avicenna, and volume editor John F. Wippel explores a leading medieval Christian philosopher, Thomas Aquinas. These chapters are followed by four responses from the modern period: Tad M. Schmaltz on Descartes; Daniel Dahlstrom on Leibniz, especially as he is understood by Heidegger; Edward C. Halper on Hegel; and, finally, Holger Zaborowski on F. W. J. Schelling. The final section of the book contains personal responses proposed by three contemporary thinkers who have addressed the problem in very different ways--Robert Cummings Neville, Brian Martine, and Nicholas Rescher. Readers will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of an issue that has taxed the ingenuity of many philosophers through the centuries and continues to intrigue many thinkers today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: An internationally prominent metaphysician and expert in medieval philosophy, John F. Wippel is the Theodore Basselin Professor of Philosophy at the Catholic University of America. He is the author or editor of numerous books and articles, including The Metaphysical Thought of Thomas Aquinas, Metaphysical Themes in Thomas Aquinas, and Metaphysical Themes in Thomas Aquinas II. Wippel is the recipient of many prestigious awards and honors, including the Aquinas Medal of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. This volume gathers studies by prominent scholars and philosophers about the question how have major figures from the history of philosophy, and some contemporary philosophers, addressed "the ultimate why question": why is there anything at all rather than nothing whatsoever? The authors take this question seriously, striving to go beyond accounting for the present state of reality as distinguished from a prior or subsequent state, to the more profound question of discerning why anything whatsoever exists. The responses are varied: Lloyd P. Gerson considers Greek philosophy, and May Sim examines Chinese philosophy. Jon McGinnis explores a leading medieval Muslim philosopher, Avicenna, and volume editor John F. Wippel explores a leading medieval Christian philosopher, Thomas Aquinas. These chapters are followed by four responses from the modern period: Tad M. Schmaltz on Descartes; Daniel Dahlstrom on Leibniz, especially as he is understood by Heidegger; Edward C. Halper on Hegel; and, finally, Holger Zaborowski on F. W. J. Schelling. The final section of the book contains personal responses proposed by three contemporary thinkers who have addressed the problem in very different ways--Robert Cummings Neville, Brian Martine, and Nicholas Rescher. Readers will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of an issue that has taxed the ingenuity of many philosophers through the centuries and continues to intrigue many thinkers today. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK "An excellent collection of very interesting explorations of the ultimate why question. This collection persuasively confirms not only the unavoidability of the question but also the rich resources of thought that different philosophers have brought and still bring to the question." - William Desmond, professor of philosophy, The Catholic University of Leuven Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction - John F. Wippel 12 Part One. Contributions in Ancient Philosophy 38 1. Goodness, Unity, and Creation in the Platonic Tradition - Lloyd P. Gerson 40 2. The Question of Being, Non-Being, and “Creation ex Nihilo” in Chinese Philosophy - May Sim 54 Part Two. Contributions in Medieval Philosophy 74 3. The Ultimate Why Question: Avicenna on Why God Is Absolutely Necessary - Jon McGinnis 76 4. Thomas Aquinas on the Ultimate Why Question: Why Is There Anything at All Rather than Nothing Whatsoever? - John F. Wippel 95 Part Three. Contributions in Modern Philosophy 118 5. Causa sui and Created Truth in Descartes - Tad M. Schmaltz 120 6. Being and Being Grounded - Daniel O. Dahlstrom 136 7. Why Is There Anything at All Rather than Absolutely Nothing?: F. W. J. Schelling’s Answer to the Ultimate Why Question - Holger Zaborowski 157 8. The Ultimate Why Question: The Hegelian Option - Edward C. Halper 181 Part Four. Contemporary Contributions 200 9. Some Contemporary Theories of Divine Creation - Robert Cummings Neville 202 10. Pragmatic Reflections on Final Causality - Brian Martine 217 11. Optimalism and the Rationality of the Real: On the Prospects of Axiological Explanation - Nicholas Rescher 228 Bibliography 242 Contributors 256 Index of Topics 260 Index of Names 268 Acknowledgments vii John F. Wippel, Introduction 1 Part One. Contributions in Ancient Philosophy 1. Lloyd P. Gerson, Goodness, Unity, and Creation in the Platonic Tradition 29 2. May Sim, The Question of Being, Non-Being, and “Creation ex Nihilo” in Chinese Philosophy 43 Part Two. Contributions in Medieval Philosophy 3. Jon McGinnis, The Ultimate Why Question: Avicenna on Why God Is Absolutely Necessary 65 4. John F. Wippel, Thomas Aquinas on the Ultimate Why Question: Why Is There Anything at All Rather than Nothing Whatsoever? 84 Part Three. Contributions in Modern Philosophy 5. Tad M. Schmaltz, Causa sui and Created Truth in Descartes 109 6. Daniel O. Dahlstrom, Being and Being Grounded 125 7. Holger Zaborowski, Why Is There Anything at All Rather than Absolutely Nothing? F. W. J. Schelling’s Answer to the Ultimate Why Question 146 8. Edward C. Halper, The Ultimate Why Question: The Hegelian Option 170 Part Four. Contemporary Contributions 9. Robert Cummings Neville, Some Contemporary Theories of Divine Creation 191 10. Brian Martine, Pragmatic Reflections on Final Causality 206 11. Nicholas Rescher, Optimalism and the Rationality of the Real: On the Prospects of Axiological Explanation 217 Bibliography 231 Contributors 245 Index of Topics 249 Index of Names 257 Goodness, Unity, And Creation In The Platonic Tradition / Lloyd P. Gerson -- The Question Of Being, Non-being And Creation Ex Nihilo In Chinese Philosophy / May Sim -- The Ultimate Why Question : Avicenna On Why God Is Absolutely Necessary / Jon Mcginnis -- Thomas Aquinas On The Ultimate Why Question : Why Is There Anything At All Rather Than Nothing Whatsoever? / John F. Wippel -- Causa Sui And Created Truth In Descartes / Tad M. Schmaltz -- Being And Being Grounded / Daniel O. Dahlstrom -- Why Is There Anything At All Rather Than Absolutely Nothing? : F.w.j. Schelling's Answer To The Ultimate Why Question / Holger Zaborowski -- The Ultimate Why Question : The Hegelian Option / Edward C. Halper -- Some Contemporary Theories Of Divine Creation / Robert Cummings Neville -- Pragmatic Reflections On Final Causality / Brian Martine -- Optimalism And The Rationality Of The Real : On The Prospects Of Axiological Explanation / Nicholas Rescher. Edited By John F. Wippel. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.