The Ultimate Why Question

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. 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