Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing? | Alex O'Connor

*What if the reason there is something rather than nothing is that nothing was never genuinely possible?* Alex O'Connor explores whether existence could be necessary, and whether the very idea of absolute nothingness makes philosophical sense. 00:00 – The Ultimate Question 01:17 – Could There Have Been Nothing? 02:35 – The Physics of "Nothing" 04:01 – Aquinas, Essence, and Necessary Existence 05:41 – Physical Nothing vs. Philosophical Nothing 07:23 – Can Nothing Truly Exist? 08:54 – Two Solutions: Necessary Being or Brute Fact 10:31 – Critique of the Brute Fact View 12:23 – Abstract Objects and Conceiving Nothingness 13:28 – Does Existence Exist by Definition? Alex O'Connor, also known as CosmicSkeptic, is an English podcaster and YouTuber known for his long-form explorations of ethics, religion, and secularism. He hosts the Within Reason podcast. *Alex is going on tour in North America this November: get your tickets:* https://www.alexoconnor.com/p/tour * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cosmicskeptic * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmicskeptic/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CosmicSkeptic *More from Alex O'Connor on Closer To Truth:* * Closer To Truth: The Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pLLkP0kHQKL9nZh35UkgkR_ * Alex O'Connor playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfV4-HeDDzZw * Closer To Truth contributors: https://closertotruth.com/contributor/alex-oconnor/ *Landscape of Consciousness website:* https://loc.closertotruth.com/ *Every Theory of Consciousness*: Robert Lawrence Kuhn interviewed by Alex O'Connor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHeT466-hxY *Subscribe to Closer To Truth:* https://www.youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV *Join the Community:* * Membership (5,000+ videos): https://closertotruth.com/register/ * Audio Podcast: https://closertotruth.podbean.com * Support the Show: https://closertotruth.com/donate/ * Official Merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/closertotruth/ *Follow Us:* * Fac