The Constitution of Nature
摘要
This chapter is dedicated to better understanding the conception of nature that was introduced in the previous chapters, which I term “internal relationalism.” I begin by explaining the implications of the conclusion that existence is a relation. I then explain the meaning of the laws of nature and how they constitute time and space. Following this, I return to the notion of time and rely on these insights to explain the arrow of time. Finally, I show how the ancient riddle “why is there something rather than nothing?” is answered by the internal relationalism conception of nature, by showing that it implies that nature necessarily exists.