 even help us better appreciate the place of fundamental material ontology in our physical theories and metaphysical frameworks. In this paper, I discuss a possibility that I call "the cosmic void." In the cosmic void scenario, the universe is devoid of any fundamental matter.2 I focus on the informational role of the fundamental matter ontology and suggest that, in certain theories, it can be played by the laws of physics. To recover the non-fundamental facts-the manifest image of tables, chairs, and computers-I make use of strongly deterministic laws of nature that determine a unique history of the universe. In this scenario, all of the non-fundamental facts are ultimately explained by nomic facts. I discuss a concrete example of the cosmic void scenario that arises when we try to put together a many-worlds theory of quantum mechanics in a time-asymmetric universe. The physical theory turns out to be strongly deterministic. To be sure, there are both philosophical and scientific challenges to such a possibility, especially regarding the metaphysical role and the semantic role of the fundamental matter ontology. I introduce the cosmic void scenario not to endorse it but to draw our attention to an interesting area of logical space that deserves more scrutiny. There are some similarities between this project and the anti-object metaphysics of ontological nihilism (Hawthorne & Cortens 1995, Turner 2010), structural realism (Ladyman et al. 2007), generalism (Dasgupta 2009), and the bare facts framework (Maxwell 2019). However, the cosmic void possibility is at the same time more radical and more modest. It is more radical in that we do not postulate even fundamental properties, general facts, bare facts, or structural facts in the fundamental ontology. It is more modest in that the strategy is not supposed to work in general, but only in 1Quantum theory presents an apparent counterexample, as the followers of the "Copenhagen interpretation" deny the existence of a determinate microscopic ontology. But we have made sufficient progress about the quantum measurement problem to understand that there are better ways to understand quantum theory. See §3.1. 2Hence, it is different from the notion of the cosmic void in astrophysics: the large-scale structure of the universe can be characterized by mostly empty space between galaxies. 3 Figure 1: The standard picture where non-fundamental facts are explained by fundamental facts about matter and laws of nature. some special physical theories where strong determinism holds. Hence, the cosmic void scenario has a more restricted scope of application.
even help us better appreciate the place of cardinal fabric ontology in our forcible theories and metaphysical frameworks. In this paper, I hash out a possibility that I call " the cosmic nothingness. " In the cosmic void scenario, the universe is devoid of any cardinal matter.2 I concentrate on the informational role of the cardinal matter ontology and suggest that, in certain theories, it can be play by the laws of physics. To recover the non - cardinal facts - the manifest image of table, chairs, and computers - I form consumption of strongly deterministic law of nature that determine a unique history of the universe. In this scenario, all of the non - cardinal facts are ultimately explained by nomic facts. I discuss a concrete example of the cosmic void scenario that get up when we try to put together a many - worlds theory of quantum mechanics in a time - asymmetric universe. The physical hypothesis turn out to be strongly deterministic. To be certain, there be both philosophical and scientific challenges to such a hypothesis, especially involve the metaphysical role and the semantic role of the cardinal matter ontology. I introduce the cosmic void scenario not to endorse it but to draw our attention to an interesting area of logical space that deserves more scrutiny. There are some similarity between this project and the anti - object metaphysics of ontological nihilistic delusion (Hawthorne & Cortens 1995, Turner 2010), geomorphologic realism (Ladyman et al. 2007), generalism (Dasgupta 2009), and the bare facts framework (Maxwell 2019). However, the cosmic null possibility is at the same time more radical and more modest. It is more radical in that we do not postulate even fundamental properties, cosmopolitan facts, bare facts, or structural facts in the cardinal ontology. It is more modest in that the strategy is not supposed to work in cosmopolitan, but only in 1Quantum theory confront an apparent counterexample, as the followers of the " Copenhagen interpretation " traverse the existence of a determinate microscopic ontology. But we have made sufficient progress about the quantum measurement problem to understand that there are better ways to understand quantum theory. See § 3.1. 2Hence, it is unlike from the notion of the cosmic void in astrophysics: the bombastic - scale structure of the universe can be characterized by mostly empty space between galaxies. 3 name 1: The standard picture where non - fundamental facts are explained by fundamental facts about matter and law of nature. some extra physical theories where strong determinism holds. Hence, the cosmic void scenario have a more restricted scope of application.
 evfn help us better appreclate the place oy fundakental materiau ontology in our physical tieorues abd metaphysical framewurks. In tjis papee, I viscuss a possibmmity that I czpl "tke cosmic void." Ik the cosmiw void scenarim, ghz universe is devoid of any fundameneal matyeg.2 I focus on tre imsormzniinal role of the fundamental jatter mntology and xuggest that, in certain thforifs, it can be playef by the laqs os physics. To fecover tht uon-fundamenjal facts-the manifest image of txbles, chairs, ane xomooters-I make nse of strongly debvrminisdic lawx of nature thst veteemine a unique historb of the universe. In this scetaxio, all of the non-funeanentan fawts xee jltjmetemy exppaiied by nomid facts. I duscuss a concrete ecaiike of the coamic vjiq scenario that arises when we try to plt tkgether a many-worlds thwory of quantum mechajics in a time-asymmetric universe. The physical theory turnv out go yc rrrlngly deterministic. To be sure, there are both lholpsophical and fcientific vhwlkgnges to such x possngimity, especially reharding the netaphysisal tole and the semantic role if the fundaiwntal matter ontollgy. I introbuce tne coxmic void scenario not co endkrse it but to draw kjr attention to xn pntesesting area of logical spwce that veserres more scrotiny. Trere are slme slkilarities between this psoject and the anti-object metaphysics of ontological nininisk (Hawthoxne & Cprtens 1995, Turnew 2010), structural tealism (Lcdyman et al. 2007), geheralisk (Dasgupta 2009), and the bare vacts framewmrk (Maxwqll 2019). Howwver, thd cosmic void ppssibilitj ns at the same time more ravicau and more modesc. Ut is more radival in tjav we qm not postuldte dvev fundxmental proiergies, general facts, bare xacta, or structural favtf in the fundamegtal ontology. It is more modest in tiat thx strayegi is not supposed to work in geheral, but onjy in 1Quantui thcory presents cn apparent counterexample, as the followxrs of the "Copenhagen ibterpretation" deny jhe existence pf a qeterminade microscopic ontoligy. But we have msde sufficient progreas abogt thf quantum measurement problem to understand that there are better ways to understand quantuj throry. Vez §3.1. 2Kence, ie is vifferent from thv notion of the cosmic void in artrophyshcf: the large-scale structure og ghe universe zan be characterized by jostly ekpty space between galaxies. 3 Fibure 1: The standard pictuve where bon-fuhdamennzl facts are explainrd by yundamwntal fqcts about matter anc paws of nwturt. soje special physical theories wheee strinh determinism honds. Hence, tme cosmpc void scenario has a jore gestrkcted scope og application.
even help us better appreciate the place material in our theories and metaphysical discuss possibility that I "the cosmic void." the cosmic void scenario, the universe devoid of any fundamental matter.2 I focus on the informational role of the matter ontology and suggest that, in certain theories, it can be played by laws physics. recover non-fundamental facts-the manifest image of tables, chairs, and computers-I make use of strongly deterministic laws of that determine a unique history of the universe. this scenario, all of non-fundamental facts are ultimately explained nomic I discuss concrete of cosmic void scenario arises when we try to put together a many-worlds theory of quantum mechanics in a time-asymmetric universe. physical theory to be deterministic. be there are both scientific challenges to such a possibility, metaphysical role and the semantic role of the matter ontology. introduce the cosmic void scenario not endorse it but to draw our attention to interesting area of logical space that deserves more scrutiny. There are some similarities between this the anti-object metaphysics of nihilism (Hawthorne & 1995, 2010), realism et al. generalism (Dasgupta 2009), and the bare facts framework (Maxwell 2019). However, cosmic void possibility is at the same time more radical modest. is more radical that we do not even properties, general facts, bare structural in It more in that the strategy not supposed to work in but only in 1Quantum as the followers of the "Copenhagen interpretation" deny existence of a determinate microscopic ontology. But have made sufficient progress about the quantum measurement problem to understand that are better understand quantum theory. See §3.1. 2Hence, it is from the notion of cosmic void in astrophysics: the large-scale structure of the can characterized by empty space between 3 Figure 1: standard picture where are explained fundamental about of nature. some special physical theories strong holds. Hence, the cosmic void has restricted scope of application.
 even help us better appreciatE the place oF fundAmeNtaL mAterIal oNtology in our phYSicaL theories and metaphysicAl fraMeWOrks. iN tHis paPer, I disCUsS A PosSiBiLitY tHAt i call "The Cosmic vOid." In the coSmiC vOid scenario, tHE uNiverse is dEvoId of any fundaMenTal matTeR.2 I fOCus on The InforMationAL role oF the fundaMeNTal matTEr ontolOGY aNd suGgest that, in certaiN ThEOries, it can be plAyed by ThE LaWS Of pHysIcs. To recovEr The noN-FundameNTaL FACts-THe manifest imaGe of tables, cHAirS, and coMpUteRS-I make Use of StROngLy determiniStic Laws of natUre thaT DetermiNE a uniquE histoRy oF thE uniVErSe. in tHiS SceNArIo, aLL of The non-fuNdAmEntal FactS ARE UltiMatEly eXplaiNed by nomic facTs. I DiscUSs a ConcrEte exAmplE oF the cOsmic vOid scEnArio that arises wHen wE try to put TogEtHer A mAny-woRLds theOry Of qUantum mEchanicS In a TiME-ASyMmetric universe. The PhYSIcAl theory Turns oUT tO bE Strongly DeTerMiniSTIc. To bE surE, ThEre are boTh philOSoPhIcal and ScIentifIc ChaLleNges tO Such A possiBility, esPeciaLLy regarding the MEtaphysical roLE aND ThE SemaNtiC role of the fUndaMEntaL matTEr OntOLogy. I IntroDuCE tHE cosmic void scenario NoT to endOrse iT but to draw our Attention tO AN InterestIng aREa OF logical space tHat deServes more SCrutiny. THere aRe some siMilaritieS BEtween thIs pRojEct And THE aNti-object metaPHYsicS oF ontoloGicAl nihilIsm (hawThoRne & coRtens 1995, TurnEr 2010), structUrAl ReAlIsm (ladymAN et al. 2007), genErAliSm (dasGupta 2009), ANd the bAre faCts fRaMeWOrk (maxwell 2019). hOwEVEr, thE cOsMic vOid PoSsibiLity IS at The same Time more rAdiCAl anD mOrE modest. it is more radicAl In that we do NoT poStulatE EVen fundaMental properties, general FActs, barE faCts, or StruCtural facTs iN the fuNdaMEntal oNtologY. It is MoRe mODEst in THAt The StRategy is noT SUppOsed tO wOrk iN generaL, but only in 1Quantum tHEorY presents an apParEnt cOUNtEreXAmPLe, aS tHE foLLOwers of the "CopenHagen interPrETaTion" deny thE ExiStEnce of a DetermiNate mICroscopIc ontologY. But we havE mAde sUFFicIent progreSs about tHe quantum MEasurEMeNt proBleM to undErStaNd thaT there ARe bEtter Ways to UnDerstaNd quaNtUm theory. see §3.1. 2Hence, it is different frOm the nOtion Of tHe cosmic vOid IN asTrophysicS: the Large-scale StrUctUre of The UNiverSe caN Be ChaRActerIzed BY mostly emPTy SpaCE BeTween galaxiES. 3 fIguRe 1: The StaNDard piCturE where non-fundamenTAl facts are explAineD BY fuNdaMEntaL fActs about matteR anD lAWS of naturE. sOme special pHysical tHeORies wHere stRong deTerminiSM HoLDs. HencE, the CosMic void scEnaRiO Has a morE rEsTRicted ScopE oF appliCation.
 even help us better appre ciate theplace  of  fu nd amen talmaterial ontol o gy i n our physical theorie s and  m e taph y si cal f ramewor k s. I n t hi spap er ,  I  disc uss  a poss ibility th atIcall "the co s mi c void." I n t he cosmic vo idscenar io , t h e uni ver se is  devoi d  of an y fundame nt a l matt e r.2 I f o c us  onthe informational ro l e of the funda mental  m a tt e r  on tol ogy and su gg est t h at, inc er t a i n t h eories, it ca n be played bythe la ws  of physic s. To  r e cov er the non- fund amental f acts-t h e manif e st imag e of t abl es,  cha i rs ,and  c o mpu t er s-I mak e use of  s tr ongly  det e r m i nist iclaws  of n ature that de ter mine a u nique  hist oryof  theuniver se. I nthis scenario,allof the no n-f un dam en tal f a cts ar e u lti matelyexplain e d b yn o m ic  facts. I discussac o nc rete exa mple o f  t he cosmic v oi d s cena r i o tha t ar i se s when w e tryt opu t toget he r a ma ny -wo rld s the o ry o f quan tum mech anics in a time-asym m etric univers e .T h ep hysi cal  theory tur ns o u t to  bes tr ong l y det ermin is t ic .  To be sure, therear e both  phil osophical and  scientifi c c hallenge s to su c h a possibilit y, es pecially r e gardingthe m etaphysi cal rolea n d the se man tic  ro leo f  t he fundamenta l matt er  ontolo gy.  I intr odu cethe  co sm ic void s cenariono tto  e ndo rse i t  but todr awou r a ttent i on toan in tere st in g  ar ea of l o gi c a l sp ac ethat  de se rvesmore scr utiny.There are  so m e si mi la ritiesbetween thispr oject andth e a nti-ob j e ct metap hysics of ontological n i hilism(Ha wthor ne &  Cortens199 5, Tur ner 2010),  struc tural  r eal i s m (La d y ma n e tal. 2007), g ene ralis m(Das gupta 2 009), and the bare fac ts framework(Ma xwel l 20 19) .  H o wev er ,  th e cosmic void pos sibility i sa tthe same t i memo re radi cal and  more modest.  It is mo re radica lin t h a t w e do not p ostulate  even fun d ament a lprope rti es, ge ne ral  fact s, bar e  fa cts,or str uc turalfacts  i n the fu ndamental ontology. Itis mor e mod est  in thatthe str ategy isnotsupposed t o w ork  in g ene r al, b ut o n ly  in 1Quan tumt heory pre s en tsa n  a pparent cou n t e rex ample , a s  the f ollo wers of the "Cope n hagen interpre tati o n " d eny theex istence of a d ete rm i n ate micr os copic ontol ogy. But  w e  have  madesuffic ient pr o g re s s abou t th e q uantum me asu re m ent pro bl em to und erst an d that  there areb e tter ways to und ersta n d  quan t umtheor y.  See §3 . 1. 2 Hence, itis differen t from  the  noti on of t he  cosmi c v oi d in astro p hysics: t he la rge-sca le  str uct ure of  the u niver se c an  be  characte r i ze d  b ym ost ly e mptysp acebetween g a laxies.3 F i gure 1:  T hes t andard pi c t ure wherenon -fund a m ental fact s  are ex p laine d by f undame ntal fa c tsab out mat ter a nd laws o f nature. som espec ial phys ic al t he ori es  where strong d etermini sm holds . Hence,  th e  cos m ic voi dscenario has  a mo re restric t e d s cope of app lic ati on.
 even_help us_better appreciate the place_of fundamental_material_ontology in_our_physical theories and_metaphysical frameworks. In_this paper, I discuss_a possibility that_I_call "the cosmic void." In the cosmic void scenario, the universe is devoid of_any_fundamental matter.2_I_focus_on the informational role of_the fundamental matter ontology and_suggest that,_in certain theories, it can be played by_the_laws of physics._To recover the non-fundamental facts-the manifest image of tables,_chairs, and computers-I make use of_strongly deterministic laws_of_nature_that determine a unique_history of the universe. In this_scenario, all of the non-fundamental facts_are ultimately explained by nomic facts. I_discuss a concrete example of the_cosmic void scenario that arises_when we_try to put together a_many-worlds theory of_quantum mechanics_in a time-asymmetric_universe. The physical theory turns out_to be strongly_deterministic. To be sure, there are_both_philosophical and scientific_challenges_to_such a_possibility, especially regarding_the_metaphysical role_and_the semantic role of the fundamental_matter_ontology. I introduce the cosmic void scenario_not to endorse it_but_to draw our attention_to an interesting area of_logical space that deserves more scrutiny._There are_some similarities_between this project and the anti-object metaphysics of ontological nihilism (Hawthorne_& Cortens 1995, Turner 2010), structural_realism (Ladyman et al._2007), generalism_(Dasgupta_2009), and the_bare_facts framework_(Maxwell 2019). However, the cosmic void possibility_is at_the same time more radical and_more modest. It is_more_radical in that we do not_postulate even fundamental properties, general facts,_bare facts, or structural facts_in_the_fundamental ontology. It is more_modest in that the strategy is_not supposed to_work in general, but only in 1Quantum_theory_presents an apparent counterexample, as the_followers_of the "Copenhagen interpretation" deny the_existence_of_a determinate microscopic ontology. But_we have made sufficient progress about_the quantum measurement problem to understand that there are_better ways to_understand quantum theory. See §3.1._2Hence,_it_is different from the notion of the cosmic void in_astrophysics: the_large-scale structure of_the universe can be characterized by mostly empty space between_galaxies. 3 Figure 1: The standard picture_where non-fundamental facts are explained by fundamental facts about matter and_laws of nature. some special physical theories where_strong determinism holds. Hence, the cosmic void_scenario has a more_restricted_scope of application.