 completely explained by nomic facts. I discuss a concrete example of this picture in a strongly deterministic version of the many-worlds theory of quantum mechanics. I discuss some philosophical and scientific challenges to this view, as well as some connections to ontological nihilism. Keywords: ontological nihilism, objects, emergence, many-worlds, time's arrow, Humeanism, non-Humeanism, laws of nature, fundamentality, the Wentaculus 1 Introduction One of the hardest question in fundamental physics and fundamental metaphysics is this: what exists at the fundamental level of reality? There is no consensus in contemporary physics. There is much less of a consensus in metaphysics. Nevertheless, on the physics side, we usually assume that the fundamental level of reality will be something physical and material. We assume that the fundamental level will not consist in purely mental ideas. We also assume that the fundamental level will not be completely devoid of matter, since our world is manifestly not empty. Different physical theories postulate different kinds of fundamental matter *Department of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0119. Website: www.eddykemingchen.net. Email: eddykemingchen@ucsd.edu 1 (and sometimes different versions of the same theory will differ in the fundamental material ontologies). To see some examples, here is a preliminary list of fundamental material ontologies in different physical theories: • Newtonian mechanics: point particles. • Maxwellian electrodynamics: charged particles and electromagnetic fields. • General relativity: matter field on space-time. • Quantum mechanics: a quantum state and / or local ontologies such as matter density field, flashes, or particles). • Quantum field theory: a quantum state and / or local ontologies such as particles, particle number ontology, or fields. • Loop quantum gravity: spin-foams. • String theory: one-dimensional strings. (This list is certainly incomplete: future theories may have radically different ontologies; and even theories on this list can be compatible with other ontologies.) Describing the fundamental material ontology is an important task in theoretical physics, since fundamental matter plays crucial roles in a physical theory. First, the fundamental material ontology in a theory plays an explanatory and metaphysical role. It is the ultimate explanation for non-fundamental ontologies and non-fundamental facts. We use fundamental matter as the ultimate reduction base: we try
completely explained by nomic facts. I discuss a concrete case of this movie in a strongly deterministic version of the many - worlds hypothesis of quantum mechanics. I discuss some philosophical and scientific challenge to this view, as well as some joining to ontological nihilism. Keywords: ontological nihilism, object, emergence, many - worlds, fourth dimension's arrow, Humeanism, non - Humeanism, law of nature, fundamentality, the Wentaculus 1 Introduction One of the hardest question in fundamental physics and fundamental metaphysics is this: what exist at the fundamental level of reality? There exist no consensus in contemporary physics. There is much less of a consensus in metaphysics. however, on the physics english, we usually assume that the fundamental grade of reality will be something physical and material. We assume that the fundamental horizontal surface will not dwell in purely mental ideas. We also assume that the fundamental level will not be wholly devoid of topic, since our world is manifestly not empty. unlike forcible theories postulate different kinds of cardinal matter * Department of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093 - 0119. Website: www.eddykemingchen.net. electronic mail: eddykemingchen@ucsd.edu 1 (and sometimes different versions of the same hypothesis will differ in the fundamental material ontologies). To see some examples, here is a preliminary tilt of fundamental material ontologies in different physical theories: • Newtonian mechanics: period particles. • Maxwellian electrodynamics: charged particles and electromagnetic fields. • General relativity: topic field on space - time. • Quantum mechanics: a quantum state and / or local ontologies such as matter density field, flashes, or particle). • Quantum field theory: a quantum state of matter and / or local ontologies such as atom, particle act ontology, or fields. • closed circuit quantum gravity: spin - foams. • String theory: one - dimensional string. (This list is certainly incomplete: future theories may have radically different ontologies; and even theories on this list can be compatible with early ontologies .) Describing the cardinal material ontology is an important task in theoretical purgative, since fundamental matter plays crucial roles in a physical theory. First, the fundamental material ontology in a theory play an explanatory and metaphysical function. It is the ultimate explanation for non - cardinal ontology and non - fundamental facts. We use fundamental matter as the ultimate decrease base: we try
 colpletely explained by nooic facts. I diseyss a roncrets exampld of this picture in a stronjly eeterninistic version of thd many-worpds theoey oh quantum mechanmds. I discuss alme 'hmlosophical and scientifiw challenges tm ghns view, as well as some connections eo ontokohical nihilism. Keyejrds: ontological nihilism, objects, emerfence, meny-worlds, time's arrow, Humeanism, non-Humeanlsm, paws of nature, funfamentality, the Qentaculus 1 Kntroduction One of thg hardest question in fundamentau phyxics and foueamfttal metaphbsics ps this: what cqists ad the findamental levcl of reqlity? There is no convensus in contempotary physiws. There is much lews of a convensjw iv mtta'hyaics. Nfvectheless, on the physicw side, we usually axstne that the fhndamegtwl level of reality will be something pvysjcal and material. We aswume that the fundamejtal levej will not consist in purely mental ideas. We also assujd tkqt thd fkndamental level will not be completely devoiq og katter, since omr world is manifextpy got empty. Difwerent phgsical theories podtulate diffwrent kinqs og fundamental matter *Departnent of Philjwophy, University oy California, San Diegp, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CC 92093-0119. Webaite: www.eddjkemingchsv.net. Email: eddykdmikgcven@ucsd.edu 1 (and sometimes qifferent verxions ow thg same eheory wilp difnar in the fundamenhal mcteridl ontologles). To see some examples, here is a preliminari lhst of fundcmentak material oneologies in diyferent 'hysicxl theoriea: • Newtmnian mechagics: point pasjicles. • Maxwenlian elqctridynqmics: cfxrged particlex and elebtxomagnetix fields. • General velatkbity: matter fieod in space-time. • Qiangum mvchenics: d quantum stdte xnd / or lucal onujlieies such as matter denshty rield, flashes, or psrbicles). • Qoantum fiqld theory: a auantum state and / or lmcau ontplodies such as particles, particls number lntjlogy, or fiejds. • Loop quantuk gravity: spin-foams. • String theory: one-dmmensional strings. (This list is certainly nngomplete: futnre thqories maf have radically difderent ontologies; and even theories on this nist fan be compatible with other ontologies.) Describing the fundamental materiql ontology is an jmpottant tcsk in thqoreviral physics, since fundamental matter plays cruciel roles it c physical theory. First, the finaamental matetial ontology in a theory llays an explanatory and metaphysical rple. It is the ultimate ewplanatiob for non-fundamxntal ontologies and non-fuudamenral facrs. Wc use fundamengal mwtter as hhe nltnmate reduction base: we try
completely explained by nomic facts. I discuss example this picture a strongly deterministic of mechanics. I discuss philosophical and scientific to this view, as well as connections to ontological nihilism. Keywords: ontological nihilism, objects, emergence, many-worlds, time's arrow, Humeanism, laws of nature, fundamentality, the Wentaculus 1 Introduction One of the hardest question fundamental and metaphysics this: what exists at the fundamental level of reality? There is no consensus in contemporary physics. is much less of a consensus in metaphysics. on the physics side, usually assume that the fundamental of will be physical material. assume that the level will not consist in purely mental ideas. We also assume that the fundamental level will not completely devoid since our is not Different physical theories kinds of fundamental matter *Department of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, 92093-0119. Website: Email: eddykemingchen@ucsd.edu 1 (and sometimes different of the same theory will differ in the material ontologies). To see some examples, here is a preliminary list of fundamental material ontologies physical theories: • Newtonian point particles. • electrodynamics: particles electromagnetic • General matter field on space-time. • Quantum mechanics: a quantum state and or local ontologies such as matter density field, flashes, or Quantum theory: a quantum and / or local such particles, particle number ontology, • quantum String one-dimensional (This list is certainly future theories may have radically ontologies; and even theories compatible with other ontologies.) Describing the fundamental material is an important task in theoretical physics, fundamental matter plays crucial roles in a physical theory. First, the fundamental ontology in plays an explanatory and metaphysical role. It is ultimate explanation for non-fundamental and non-fundamental facts. We use fundamental matter as the reduction we try
 completely explained by nomiC facts. I disCuss a ConCreTe ExamPle oF this picture in A StroNgly deterministic versiOn of tHe MAny-wORlDs theOry of quANtUM MecHaNiCs. I DiSCuSs somE phIlosophIcal and sciEntIfIc challenges TO tHis view, as wEll As some connecTioNs to onToLogICal niHilIsm. KeYwords: ONtologIcal nihilIsM, ObjectS, EmergenCE, MaNy-woRlds, time's arrow, HumEAnISm, non-Humeanism, Laws of NaTUrE, FUndAmeNtality, the weNtacuLUs 1 IntroDUcTION OnE Of the hardest qUestion in fuNDamEntal pHySicS And funDamenTaL MetAphysics is tHis: wHat exists At the fUNdamentAL level oF realiTy? THerE is nO CoNsEnsUs IN coNTeMpoRAry Physics. THeRe Is mucH lesS OF A ConsEnsUs in MetapHysics. NeverthEleSs, on THe pHysicS side, We usUaLly asSume thAt the FuNdamental level oF reaLity will bE soMeThiNg PhysiCAl and mAteRiaL. We assuMe that tHE fuNdAMENtAl level will not consIsT IN pUrely menTal ideAS. WE aLSo assume ThAt tHe fuNDAmentAl leVEl Will not bE complETeLy Devoid oF mAtter, sInCe oUr wOrld iS ManiFestly Not empty. diffeREnt physical theORies postulate DIfFEReNT kinDs oF fundamentaL matTEr *DePartMEnT of pHilosOphy, UNiVErSIty of California, San DIeGo, 9500 GilmAn Dr, LA Jolla, CA 92093-0119. WebsiTe: www.eddykEMINgchen.neT. EmaIL: eDDykemingchen@ucSd.edu 1 (And sometimES differeNt verSions of tHe same theORY will difFer In tHe fUndAMEnTal material onTOLogiEs). to see soMe eXamples, HerE is A prEliMiNary list oF fundameNtAl MaTeRiaL ontoLOgies in dIfFerEnT phYsicaL TheoriEs: • NewToniAn MeCHanIcs: poinT PaRTIcleS. • MAxWellIan ElEctroDynaMIcs: Charged Particles And ELectRoMaGnetic fIelds. • General rElAtivity: matTeR fiEld on sPACe-time. • QuAntum mechanics: a quantum sTAte and / oR loCal onToloGies such aS maTter deNsiTY field, FlasheS, or paRtIclES). • quantUM FiEld ThEory: a quantUM StaTe and / Or LocaL ontoloGies such as particleS, ParTicle number onTolOgy, oR FIeLds. • lOoP QuaNtUM grAVIty: spin-foams. • StrIng theory: oNe-DImEnsional stRIngS. (THis list Is certaInly iNCompletE: future thEories may HaVe raDICalLy differenT ontologIes; and eveN TheorIEs On thiS liSt can bE cOmpAtiblE with oTHer OntolOgies.) DEsCribinG the fUnDamental Material ontology is an impOrtant Task iN thEoretical PhySIcs, Since fundAmenTal matter pLayS crUcial RolES in a pHysiCAl TheORy. FirSt, thE FundamentAL mAteRIAl Ontology in a THEOry Plays An eXPlanatOry aNd metaphysical rolE. it is the ultimatE expLANatIon FOr noN-fUndamental ontoLogIeS ANd non-funDaMental facts. we use funDaMEntal Matter As the uLtimate REDuCTion baSe: we Try
 completely explained by n omic facts . I d isc uss  a  con cret e example of t h is p icture in a strongly d eterm in i stic ve rsion  of the ma n y -wo rl ds  th eo r yof qu ant um mech anics. I d isc us s some philo s op hical andsci entific chal len ges to  t his view,  as  well  as so m e conn ections t oo ntolog i cal nih i l is m. K eywords: ontologi c al nihilism, obje cts, e me r ge n c e,man y-worlds,ti me'sa rrow, H u me a n i sm, non-Humeanism , laws of n a tur e, fun da men t ality,  theWe n tac ulus 1 Intr oduc tion Oneof the hardest questio n in f und ame ntal ph ys ics  a n d f u nd ame n tal  metaphy si cs  is t his: w h a t ex ist s at  thefundamental l eve l of rea lity?  Ther e is  n o con sensus  in c on temporary physi cs.There ismuc hles sof ac onsens usinmetaphy sics. N e ver th e l e ss , on the physics s id e ,  w e usuall y assu m eth a t the fu nd ame ntal l evelof r e al ity will  be so m et hi ng phys ic al and  m ate ria l. We assu me tha t the fu ndame n tal level will not consist i n  p u r el y  men tal  ideas. Wealso assu me t h at  th e  fund ament al le v el will not be comp le tely d evoid  of matter, s ince our w o r l d is man ifes t ly not empty. Dif feren t physical theories  post ulate di fferent k i n ds of fu nda men tal  ma t t er  *Departmento f  Phi lo sophy,Uni versity  of  Ca lif orn ia , San Die go, 9500  G il ma nDr,  La J o lla, CA92 093 -0 119 . Web s ite: w ww.ed dyke mi ng c hen .net. E m ai l :  edd yk em ingc hen @u csd.e du 1 (an d somet imes diff ere n t ve rs io ns of t he same theor ywill diffe rinthe fu n d amentalmaterial ontologies). T o  see so meexamp les,  here isa p relimi nar y  listof fun damen ta l m a t erial o nt olo gi es in diff e r ent  phys ic al t heories : • Newtonian mech a nic s: point part icl es.• Ma xwe l li a n e le c tro d y namics: charged  particles  a n delectromag n eti cfields.  • Gene ral r e lativit y: matter  field on  s pace - t ime . • Quantu m mechan ics: a qu a ntums ta te an d /  or lo ca l o ntolo gies s u chas ma tter d en sity f ield,  f lashes,or particles). • Quantu m fiel d the ory : a quant ums tat e and / o r lo cal ontolo gie s s uch a s p a rticl es,p ar tic l e num bero ntology,o rfie l d s.  • Loop qua n t u m g ravit y:s pin-fo ams.  • String theory: one-dimensiona l st r i ngs . ( T hisli st is certainl y i nc o m plete: f ut ure theorie s may ha ve radic ally d iffere nt onto l o gi e s; and  eve n t heories o n t hi s  list c an  b e  compa tibl ewith o ther o n tolo g i es.) Describingthe f u n damen t almater ia l ontol o gy i s an impor tant task i n theo reti cal p hysics,  s ince f und am ental matt e r plays c rucia l roles  i n aphy sicaltheo r y . Fir st,th e f undamenta l ma t er ia l  on tolo gy in  a  the ory plays an expla nat o ry andme tap h y sicalr ol e .  It is the  ul timat e explanatio n  for no n -fund amenta l onto logiesa ndno n-funda men t a l facts.We use fu n dam en talmatter a stheul tim at e reduction bas e: we tr y
 completely_explained by_nomic facts. I discuss_a concrete_example_of this_picture_in a strongly_deterministic version of_the many-worlds theory of_quantum mechanics. I_discuss_some philosophical and scientific challenges to this view, as well as some connections to_ontological_nihilism. Keywords:_ontological_nihilism,_objects, emergence, many-worlds, time's arrow,_Humeanism, non-Humeanism, laws of nature,_fundamentality, the_Wentaculus 1 Introduction One of the hardest question_in_fundamental physics and_fundamental metaphysics is this: what exists at the fundamental_level of reality? There is no_consensus in contemporary_physics._There_is much less of_a consensus in metaphysics. Nevertheless, on_the physics side, we usually assume_that the fundamental level of reality will_be something physical and material. We_assume that the fundamental level_will not_consist in purely mental ideas._We also assume_that the_fundamental level will_not be completely devoid of matter,_since our world_is manifestly not empty. Different physical_theories_postulate different kinds_of_fundamental_matter *Department_of Philosophy, University_of_California, San_Diego,_9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA_92093-0119._Website: www.eddykemingchen.net. Email: eddykemingchen@ucsd.edu 1 (and sometimes_different versions of the_same_theory will differ in_the fundamental material ontologies). To_see some examples, here is a_preliminary list_of fundamental_material ontologies in different physical theories: • Newtonian mechanics: point particles._• Maxwellian electrodynamics: charged particles and_electromagnetic fields. • General_relativity: matter_field_on space-time. •_Quantum_mechanics: a_quantum state and / or local ontologies_such as_matter density field, flashes, or particles)._• Quantum field theory:_a_quantum state and / or local_ontologies such as particles, particle number_ontology, or fields. • Loop_quantum_gravity:_spin-foams. • String theory: one-dimensional_strings. (This list is certainly incomplete:_future theories may_have radically different ontologies; and even theories_on_this list can be compatible with_other_ontologies.) Describing the fundamental material ontology_is_an_important task in theoretical physics,_since fundamental matter plays crucial roles_in a physical theory. First, the fundamental material ontology_in a theory_plays an explanatory and metaphysical_role._It_is the ultimate explanation for non-fundamental ontologies and non-fundamental facts._We use_fundamental matter as_the ultimate reduction base: we try