What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to resolve why there is something rather than nothing using information theory.

February 24, 2026Open Access

Why There Must Be Something: Information, States, and the Logical Necessity of Existence

Key Points

The aim is to resolve why there is something rather than nothing using information theory.
Applied Landauer's principle related to information as a physical entity.
Analyzed logical coherence of the concept of 'nothing'.
Discussed implications of existence being necessary rather than contingent.
Concluded that 'nothing' is logically incoherent and itself constitutes 'something'.
Established that existence is a requirement, eliminating the need for a first cause.
Reframed cosmological debates to focus on existence as necessary rather than contingent.

Abstract

We resolve the fundamental question of metaphysics—"Why is there something rather than nothing?"—through information theory. Drawing on Landauer's (1961) principle that information is physical, we demonstrate that "nothing" is logically incoherent. Any state, including the hypothetical absence of all states, constitutes information. Therefore, "nothing" would itself be "something," creating a logical contradiction. We conclude that existence is not contingent but necessary: the universe exists because non-existence is impossible. This reframes cosmological questions by eliminating the need for a first cause and establishing existence as a logical requirement rather than a contingent fact requiring explanation.

Read Full Paperexternally

Ask AI

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay

View Full Paper