Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?

The theme of "Why Does the World Exist?" is not hard to discern, as its title suggests its primary theme. The theme of the book is to reflect and perhaps attempt to answer the question, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" This philosophical question, perhaps the deepest of them all, has been addressed by many of the greatest philosophical, theological, scientific, and literary minds in recorded history.

Holt addresses the question in a piecemeal way. His primary approach is to proceed by interview. He interviews a wide array of philosophers and physicists, along with some figures in literature. Each of these individuals gives an importantly different answer to the question. Some, like Swinburne, advocate a theistic answer to the question. Others, like Adolf Grunbaum, deny that the idea makes sense. Roger Penrose argues that the universe may exist due to the...