Editing Nihilism (section)

=== Metaphysical nihilism ===
{{main|Metaphysical nihilism}}
Metaphysical or ontological nihilism encompasses various views about the fundamental nature of [[reality]]. One version addresses the question of [[Why is there anything at all?|why there is anything at all]]. It suggests that, at least in principle, an empty world is possible. While this view acknowledges that the world contains [[concrete objects]], it asserts that this is a [[Contingency (philosophy)|contingent]] fact, meaning that there could have been nothing. In such a scenario, the universe would be entirely empty, without any people, animals, planets, and no other forms of matter or energy.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Coggins|2005|loc=Lead section}} | {{harvnb|Gemes|Sykes|2013|pp=673–674}} | {{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1–2]}} }}</ref>

The subtraction argument is an influential argument for metaphysical nihilism. It proceeds from the premise that the world does not depend on the existence of any individual concrete object. For example, the world could still exist if a specific rock was removed. The argument concludes that an empty world is possible since it is the result of continuously reapplying this idea, subtracting objects at each step until an empty universe remains.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Coggins|2005|loc=Lead section}} | {{harvnb|Gemes|Sykes|2013|pp=673–674}} | {{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 11–12]}} }}</ref>{{efn|Some forms of the subtraction argument include the assumption that the world is finite to ensure that this endpoint is reached.<ref>{{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 11–12]}}</ref>}} Opponents of metaphysical nihilism assert that an empty world is impossible, meaning that something must exist. For example, one view suggests that there are necessary objects, possibly God, that are present even if nothing else is.<ref>{{harvnb|Coggins|2010|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=tBh_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1 1–4]}}</ref>

A more radical and controversial form of metaphysical nihilism denies the actual existence of objects. It states that there is no world, arguing that the experience of the universe is a mere illusion without an underlying reality. As a result, nothing at all is real. This view is sometimes interpreted as [[Metaphysical solipsism|a form of solipsism]], proposing that only [[the self]] exists and that the external world is merely an idea held by the self without a substantial reality.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Slocombe|2006|pp=4, 6}} | {{harvnb|Turner|2011|pp=3–4}} | {{harvnb|Carr|1992|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=_i2VZYYYp-gC&pg=PA17 17–18, 149]}} }}</ref>