 (space-time or something analogous to spacetime) is completely empty, we can still recover all the non-fundamental facts from fundamental laws alone, relying on purely nomic explanations. That would be surprising if it turns out to be a successful theory. What are some advantages for maintaining the cosmic void scenario? First, it has a fairly parsimonious ontological base. All else being equal, we have reasons to prefer a more parsimonious theory. Of course, not everyone will be convinced that other things are equal here. Perhaps we lose certain explanatory power. We also should be careful where and how to apply Ockham's Razor for reasons mentioned in (Maudlin 2007). We will return to this point in §4. Second, the cosmic void scenario also shares some of the advantages of radical versions of ontological nihilism, such as the versions developed in (Hawthorne & Cortens 1995). For example, since there are no material objects at the fundamental level, the difficult metaphysical disputes about identity of material objects over time and mereological composition of material objects simply do not arise, at least for things that exist at the fundamental level. Nevertheless, neither consideration is decisive. Moreover, the cosmic void scenario may cost us important intuitions or principles that we cherish (see §4). In the end, it will require a more comprehensive cost / benefit analysis (one that we do not have the space to develop in this paper) to reach a reflective equilibrium about whether the cosmic void scenario should be allowed in logical space. Let us now turn to a case study of the cosmic void scenario. 3 A Case Study In this section, we provide a concrete example of strong determinism to illustrate the possibility of the cosmic void. The example relies on a non-standard way of combining Everettian many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics with the low-entropy initial condition of the universe that is essential for explaining the arrow of time. 3.1 Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Hugh Everett III's many-worlds interpretation (1957) was an attempt to address a central problem in the foundation of quantum mechanics-the quantum measurement problem.5 Textbook quantum mechanics suggests that we assign a quantum state, represented by a wave function, to some physical systems of interest, such as a cat in a box. The wave function obeys two dynamics. First, it obeys a linear equation of motion-the Schrödinger equation. That equation has the tendency to spread out the wave function
(space - time or something analogous to spacetime) is completely empty, we can still recuperate all the non - cardinal facts from fundamental law entirely, relying on purely nomic explanations. That would be surprising if it flex out to be a successful theory. What are some advantages for uphold the cosmic void scenario? First, it suffer a fairly parsimonious ontological al-qaeda. All else being adequate, we have reasons to choose a more parsimonious theory. Of naturally, not everyone will be convert that other things are equal here. Perhaps we suffer certain explanatory power. We also should be careful where and how to apply Ockham's Razor for reason mentioned in (Maudlin 2007). We will return to this point in § 4. Second, the cosmic void scenario also share some of the advantages of radical versions of ontological nihilism, such as the versions train in (Hawthorne & Cortens 1995). For example, since there are no material objects at the fundamental level, the difficult metaphysical disputes about identity of fabric object over time and mereological composing of fabric objects simply do not arise, at least for things that exist at the fundamental level. Nevertheless, neither consideration is critical. Moreover, the cosmic void scenario may cost us important intuitions or principles that we cherish (see § 4). In the end, it will require a more comprehensive cost / benefit analysis (one that we do not have the quad to develop in this composition) to reach a reflective equilibrium about whether the cosmic void scenario should be allowed in coherent space. Let us now change by reversal to a case study of the cosmic void scenario. 3 A Case sketch In this section, we put up a concrete example of strong determinism to exemplify the possibility of the cosmic void. The example relies on a non - standard manner of combining Everettian many - world interpretation of quantum mechanics with the low - entropy initial condition of the population that is essential for explaining the arrow of time. 3.1 Many - Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Hugh Everett III's many - world interpretation (1957) was an attempt to address a central problem in the basis of quantum mechanics - the quantum measurement problem.5 Textbook quantum mechanics propose that we assign a quantum state, represented by a wave function, to some physical systems of pastime, such as a cat in a box. The wave function obeys two dynamics. First, it obey a linear equation of gesture - the Schrödinger equation. That equation has the tendency to spread out the wave function
 (spwce-time or something anauogous to spacejine) is rompletsly empth, we can still recover all tie nin-funeamental facts from fuvdamental laws aline, celying on purelb nomic crplanzbions. Vhat would be sorprising if it turns out do bz a successful theory. What are some wdvantabed for maintainyng uhe cosjpc void scenario? First, it has a fairly parsimonious ontological base. All else beijg equal, we have rfasons to ptsfew a more parskmonious theory. Of coutse, not everyone will be convincdd thct other thunts wte equal herx. Perhwps we lose gvrtain axplanayory power. We slsm syould be careful wherx and how to apply Oskham's Rasox for reasons mentionwd in (Mdudlhn 2007). Dw wkll rxtudn to hhia point in §4. Second, thw cosmic void scenatij also shares aome os ehe advantages of radical versions of ottomogical nihilism, such aw the versions develoked in (Hawehorne & Cortens 1995). For example, since there are no mdteriel oblcgts xr hhe fundamental level, the difficult metaphysiszl dpsputes about idektity of material pbuevjs over time avd merzklkgical composition of matgrial ibjects symplu do not arise, at least for things that wxist at the fundalental leveu. Neferthrless, neither consideracion ia decisive. Loreover, ffe cosmic void szensrho may cost us important igtuitions or 'rinciplds tnat we cherish (sfe §4). Ik the end, it will rfquirg a mose comprehfnsive cost / benefit analysis (oix that we do mod hdve the fpace to develop ig this paper) tp reach a rewlective esuilibrmum about whqther the cosklc void scenerio shoujd bw aloowed iv logical space. Let us now turn to a case study of tme corjic void scenarnu. 3 A Case Study On ghif dertion, fe provide a conzregr exaople of strivg drterminism to illustsate the possibility og bhe cosmix void. Tre example rekies on a non-standwrd wey of rombinong Everettian many-worlds interprstation ov qmantum mechanycs qith the low-zntropy initial condition of the universx that is essential fot explaining the arroc pf time. 3.1 Maiy-Worlqs Interpsetation of Quantum Nechanics Hugh Evtrett III's many-worlds ihterpratatiln (1957) was an attempt to address a central problem in the foundation of quanrum merhwnics-the quzntuk meavuxemznt proflem.5 Vextbook quantum kechanics suggests that we assijn a quantgm state, represented by a wave fjnction, to sooe physical systems of ihterest, xuch as a cat in a box. The wave function obeys two dynakics. Firwt, it obeys a lmnear equation of moyion-thz Schröeinger wquabion. That equagiom mas the tejdenry co spread out the wave function
(space-time or something analogous to spacetime) is we still recover the non-fundamental facts on nomic explanations. That be surprising if turns out to be a successful What are some advantages for maintaining the cosmic void scenario? First, it has fairly parsimonious ontological base. All else being equal, we have reasons to prefer more theory. course, everyone will be convinced that other things are equal here. Perhaps we lose certain explanatory power. also should be careful where and how to Ockham's Razor for reasons in (Maudlin 2007). We will to point in Second, cosmic scenario also shares of the advantages of radical versions of ontological nihilism, such as the versions developed in (Hawthorne & 1995). For there are material at fundamental level, the disputes about identity of material objects mereological composition of material objects simply do not at least things that exist at the fundamental Nevertheless, neither consideration is decisive. Moreover, the cosmic scenario may cost us important intuitions or principles that we cherish (see §4). In the will require a more cost / benefit (one we not the space develop in this paper) to reach a reflective equilibrium about whether cosmic void scenario should be allowed in logical space. Let turn a case study the cosmic void scenario. A Study In this section, a example to the of the cosmic void. example relies on a non-standard of combining Everettian many-worlds the low-entropy initial condition of the universe that essential for explaining the arrow of time. Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Hugh Everett III's many-worlds interpretation (1957) was attempt to central problem in the foundation of quantum mechanics-the measurement problem.5 Textbook quantum suggests that we assign a quantum state, represented by wave to some systems of interest, as a cat a box. The obeys two First, obeys of motion-the Schrödinger equation. That equation the to spread out the wave
 (space-time or something analoGous to spacEtime) Is cOmpLeTely EmptY, we can still recOVer aLl the non-fundamental facTs froM fUNdamENtAl lawS alone, rELyING on PuReLy nOmIC eXplanAtiOns. That Would be surPriSiNg if it turns oUT tO be a succesSfuL theory. What aRe sOme advAnTagES for mAinTainiNg the cOSmic voId scenariO? FIRst, it hAS a fairlY PArSimoNious ontological bASe. aLl else being equAl, we haVe REaSONs tO prEfer a more pArSimonIOus theoRY. OF COUrsE, Not everyone wiLl be convincED thAt otheR tHinGS are eqUal heRe. pErhAps we lose ceRtaiN explanatOry powER. We also SHould be CarefuL whEre And hOW tO aPplY OCKhaM'S RAzoR For Reasons mEnTiOned iN (MauDLIN 2007). we wiLl rEturN to thIs point in §4. SecoNd, tHe coSMic Void sCenarIo alSo ShareS some oF the aDvAntages of radicaL verSions of onTolOgIcaL nIhiliSM, such aS thE veRsions dEvelopeD In (HAwTHORnE & Cortens 1995). For example, SiNCE tHere are nO materIAl ObJEcts at thE fUndAmenTAL leveL, the DIfFicult meTaphysICaL dIsputes AbOut ideNtIty Of mAteriAL objEcts ovEr time anD mereOLogical composiTIon of material OBjECTs SImplY do Not arise, at lEast FOr thIngs THaT exISt at tHe funDaMEnTAl level. Nevertheless, NeIther cOnsidEration is deciSive. MoreovER, THe cosmic Void SCeNArio may cost us iMportAnt intuitiONs or prinCipleS that we cHerish (see §4). iN The end, it WilL reQuiRe a MORe Comprehensive COSt / beNeFit analYsiS (one thaT we Do nOt hAve ThE space to dEvelop in ThIs PaPeR) to Reach A ReflectiVe EquIlIbrIum abOUt whetHer thE cosMiC vOId sCenario SHoULD be aLlOwEd in LogIcAl spaCe. LeT Us nOw turn tO a case stuDy oF The cOsMiC void scEnario. 3 A Case StUdY In this secTiOn, wE proviDE A concretE example of strong determiNIsm to ilLusTrate The pOssibilitY of The cosMic VOid. The ExamplE reliEs On a NON-stanDARd Way Of Combining EVERetTian mAnY-worLds inteRpretation of quantuM MecHanics with the Low-EntrOPY iNitIAl COndItIOn oF THe universe that iS essential FoR ExPlaining thE ArrOw Of time. 3.1 MAny-WorlDs IntERpretatIon of QuanTum MechanIcS HugH eVerEtt III's manY-worlds iNterpretaTIon (1957) waS An AttemPt tO addreSs A ceNtral ProbleM In tHe fouNdatioN oF quantUm mecHaNics-the qUantum measurement probleM.5 TextbOok quAntUm mechaniCs sUGgeSts that we AssiGn a quantum StaTe, rEpresEntED by a wAve fUNcTioN, To somE phySIcal systeMS oF inTEReSt, such as a caT IN A boX. The wAve FUnctioN obeYs two dynamics. FirsT, It obeys a linear EquaTIOn oF moTIon-tHe schrödinger equAtiOn. tHAt equatiOn Has the tendeNcy to sprEaD Out thE wave fUnctioN
 (space-time or somethinganalogousto sp ace tim e)  iscomp letely empty,w e ca n still recover all th e non -f u ndam e nt al fa cts fro m  f u n dam en ta l l aw s  a lone,  re lying o n purely n omi cexplanations .  T hat wouldbesurprising i f i t turn sout to be  asucce ssfult heory.  What are  s o me adv a ntagesf o rmain taining the cosmi c  v o id scenario? F irst,it ha s a f air ly parsimo ni ous o n tologic a lb a s e.A ll else being  equal, weh ave  reaso ns  to prefer  a mo re par simonious t heor y. Of cou rse, n o t every o ne will  be co nvi nce d th a tot her  t h ing s  a ree qua l here.Pe rh aps w e lo s e c erta inexpl anato ry power. Weals o sh o uld  be c arefu l wh er e and  how t o app ly  Ockham's Razor  for  reasonsmen ti one din (M a udlin200 7).  We wil l retur n  to  t h i s  p oint in §4. Second ,t h ecosmic v oid sc e na ri o  also sh ar essome o f the  adv a nt ages ofradica l  v er sions o fontolo gi cal  ni hilis m , su ch asthe vers ionsd eveloped in (H a wthorne & Cor t en s 19 9 5).For  example, s ince ther e ar e  n o m a teria l obj ec t sa t the fundamental l ev el, th e dif ficult metaph ysical dis p u t es about  ide n ti t y of materialobjec ts over ti m e and me reolo gical co mposition o f materi alobj ect s s i m pl y do not aris e ,  atle ast for  th ings th atexi statth e fundame ntal lev el .Ne ve rth eless ,  neither  c ons id era tioni s deci sive.  Mor eo ve r , t he cosm i cv o id s ce na riomay  c ost u s im p ort ant int uitions o r p r inci pl es  that w e cherish (se e§4). In th eend , it w i l l requir e a more comprehensivec ost / b ene fit a naly sis (onetha t we d o n o t have  the s paceto  de v e lop i n th ispa per) to re a c h a  refl ec tive  equili brium about whethe r  th e cosmic void  sc enar i o  s hou l db e a ll o wed i n logical space . Let us n ow tu rn to a ca s e s tu dy of t he cosm ic vo i d scena rio. 3 ACase Stud yIn t h i s s ection, we  provide  a concre t e exa m pl e ofstr ong de te rmi nismto ill u str ate t he pos si bility  of t he  cosmicvoid. The example relie s on a  non- sta ndard way  of com bining Ev eret tian many- wor lds  inte rpr e tatio n of qu ant u m mec hani c s with th e  l ow- e n tr opy initial c o ndi tionoft he uni vers e that is essenti a l for explaini ng t h e  ar row of t im e. 3.1 Many-Wo rld sI n terpreta ti on of Quant um Mecha ni c s Hug h Ever ett II I's man y - wo r lds in terp ret ation (19 57)  w a s an at te mp t  to ad dres sa cent ral pr o blem i n the foundation  of q u a ntumm ech anics -t he quan t um m easurement  problem.5Textbo ok q uantu m mecha ni cs sug ges ts  that we a s sign a qu antum  state,  r epre sen ted by  a w a v e fun ctio n,  to  some phy s i ca l  s ys t ems  ofinter es t, s uch as ac at in abox .  The wa ve  fu n c tion o b ey s two dynami cs.  Firs t ,  it obeysa  lin e ar equat ion of  motio n-the S c hrö di nger eq uat i o n. That e quation h a s t he  ten dency to  s prea dout  t he wave functio n
 (space-time_or something_analogous to spacetime) is_completely empty,_we_can still_recover_all the non-fundamental_facts from fundamental_laws alone, relying on_purely nomic explanations._That_would be surprising if it turns out to be a successful theory. What are_some_advantages for_maintaining_the_cosmic void scenario? First, it_has a fairly parsimonious ontological_base. All_else being equal, we have reasons to prefer_a_more parsimonious theory._Of course, not everyone will be convinced that other_things are equal here. Perhaps we_lose certain explanatory_power._We_also should be careful_where and how to apply Ockham's_Razor for reasons mentioned in (Maudlin_2007). We will return to this point_in §4. Second, the cosmic void_scenario also shares some of_the advantages_of radical versions of ontological_nihilism, such as_the versions_developed in (Hawthorne_& Cortens 1995). For example, since_there are no_material objects at the fundamental level,_the_difficult metaphysical disputes_about_identity_of material_objects over time_and_mereological composition_of_material objects simply do not arise,_at_least for things that exist at the_fundamental level. Nevertheless, neither_consideration_is decisive. Moreover, the_cosmic void scenario may cost_us important intuitions or principles that_we cherish_(see §4)._In the end, it will require a more comprehensive cost /_benefit analysis (one that we do_not have the space_to develop_in_this paper) to_reach_a reflective_equilibrium about whether the cosmic void scenario_should be_allowed in logical space. Let us_now turn to a_case_study of the cosmic void scenario._3 A Case Study In this_section, we provide a concrete_example_of_strong determinism to illustrate the_possibility of the cosmic void. The_example relies on_a non-standard way of combining Everettian many-worlds_interpretation_of quantum mechanics with the low-entropy_initial_condition of the universe that is_essential_for_explaining the arrow of time._3.1 Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics_Hugh Everett III's many-worlds interpretation (1957) was an attempt_to address a_central problem in the foundation_of_quantum_mechanics-the quantum measurement problem.5 Textbook quantum mechanics suggests that we_assign a_quantum state, represented_by a wave function, to some physical systems of interest,_such as a cat in a box._The wave function obeys two dynamics. First, it obeys a linear_equation of motion-the Schrödinger equation. That equation has_the tendency to spread out the wave_function