Principle of Sufficient Reason
The philosophical principle, articulated by Leibniz, that everything must have an explanation or reason for its existence. Applied to the universe, it requires that the universe's existence be explained either by external cause (God) or by necessity (God as necessary being). This principle underpins much of the Cosmological Argument.
Real World
When cosmologist Lawrence Krauss published 'A Universe from Nothing' in 2012, theologians responded that his quantum vacuum is not truly 'nothing' — illustrating the ongoing dispute about whether the universe can be a brute fact or demands sufficient reason.
Exam Focus
For evaluation, contrast the PSR with the 'brute fact' response — examiners expect you to assess whether the principle itself is justified.
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