 2 The Possibility of the Cosmic Void What is the cosmic void? It is the scenario in which nothing material exists at the fundamental level. Suppose spacetime is fundamental. Then, in this scenario, fundamentally speaking the spacetime is completely empty. There are no fundamental particles, fundamental fields, fundamental quantum states, any kind of fundamental material distributions, or any non-trivial decorations on spacetime. This cosmic void scenario is allowed by both special and general relativity. However, that is not the intended interpretation here. In the empty solutions allowed by special and general relativity, non-fundamental facts that there are tables and chairs are false. In the cosmic void scenario I would like to describe, those non-fundamental facts remain true, even though there is no fundamental material ontology. On the standard picture (see Figure 1), non-fundamental facts about tables and chairs are made true by fundamental laws of nature and fundamental facts about the existence and behavior of fundamental matter, such as point particles. Fundamental particles constitute tables and chairs, and the existence and behavior of tables and chairs can be explained by the existence and behavior of the fundamental material ontology, together with the laws. On the non-standard picture (see Figure 2), since there is nothing material at the fundamental level, we have to appeal to something else to explain the non4 Figure 2: The non-standard picture where non-fundamental facts are completely explained by fundamental laws of nature. fundamental facts. What can that explanation be? A candidate is the fundamental laws of nature. For the purpose of this paper, we commit to a non-Humean theory of lawhood. Here we assume that laws are not merely summaries of the mosaic. There can be non-trivial laws even when the mosaic is completely empty and un-decorated. Usually, fundamental laws of nature are at best partial explanations for most non-fundamental facts. The existence of a table in front of me at this point is not entailed by the standard laws of physics. At the very least, we need also the complete state of the universe at some time (or during some time interval). The complete state of the universe is not encoded in the dynamical laws, for they are compatible with many different states of the universe. In standard physical theories, the complete state of the universe refers to the state of the fundamental material ontology. Hence, the non-standard picture is not accommodated by the usual laws of physics. It is useful to distinguish between two types of laws of physics: indeterministic laws and deterministic
2 The Possibility of the Cosmic Void What is the cosmic void? It is the scenario in which nothing material exists at the fundamental degree. presuppose spacetime is fundamental. Then, in this scenario, fundamentally speaking the spacetime is wholly empty. There are no fundamental particles, cardinal field, fundamental quantum state, any kind of fundamental material distribution, or any non - trivial decorations on spacetime. This cosmic null scenario is allowed by both special and general relativity. However, that is not the intended interpretation here. In the empty solutions allowed by particular and general relativity, non - fundamental facts that there exist tables and chairs are false. In the cosmic void scenario I would wish to describe, those non - cardinal facts remain true, even though there is no cardinal material ontology. On the standard picture (see Figure 1), non - fundamental facts about tables and chairs are made true by fundamental laws of nature and fundamental facts about the existence and behavior of fundamental matter, such as detail particles. Fundamental particle constitute tables and chairs, and the existence and demeanor of tables and chair can be explained by the existence and demeanor of the fundamental material ontology, together with the laws. On the non - standard picture (see Figure 2), since there be nothing material at the fundamental level, we have to appeal to something else to explain the non4 Figure 2: The non - standard word picture where non - fundamental facts are completely explained by fundamental law of nature. fundamental facts. What can that explanation be? A candidate is the cardinal laws of nature. For the determination of this paper, we commit to a non - Humean hypothesis of lawhood. Here we assume that laws are not merely summaries of the mosaic. There can be non - trivial laws even when the mosaic is wholly empty and un - decorated. Usually, fundamental laws of nature are at good partial explanation for most non - fundamental facts. The universe of a table in movement of me at this point is not entailed by the standard laws of physics. At the very least, we need also the complete state of the universe at some clock time (or during some time interval). The arrant state of the universe is not encode in the dynamical laws, for they are compatible with many different states of the universe. In standard physical theories, the complete state of the universe refers to the state of matter of the cardinal material ontology. Hence, the non - standard picture is not accommodated by the usual laws of physics. It is useful to spot between two types of laws of physics: indeterministic law and deterministic
 2 Tje Possibility of the Cormic Void What nw the rosmic boid? It ks the scenario in which notiing mateeial exists at the funaamental pevel. Suppost spacetime is fuisamental. Then, ln thns scenario, fundsmentally vpeaking the s[azecime is completely empty. There are nj fundakejtal particles, funcwmenfal fields, fundamental quantum stafes, any kind of fundsmental material distributlons, or any non-trivial decorationw on wpacetime. Thks cosmic nmid scenarjo is allowed by both special avd geueral relatuvuty. Vowever, thav is njt the intended intespretatoon here. In thc empvy silutions allowed by s'ecial and general rglativity, tou-fundamental facts thqt therg are tabuws xnd ciaids are famse. In the cosmic voie scenario I would kihv to describe, those njn-fundamental facts remain true, even thmugg there is no fundamentql material ontology. Ln the stwndard picture (see Figure 1), non-fundamental facts atout vaclew wve fhairs are made true by fundamental laws of nwfute and fundamentcl facts about tne ecystence and bghavior of fundamental matteg, such ws pount partisles. Fundamental particles consritute tablef and chairs, and thz existence cnd benaviot of tables and chairs ean be explained hy the exjrtence and behavkor ox the fundamental material ontology, togzther wigh tne lawf. On the nln-stakgard picture (see Flgure 2), vince therf is nothing material at the fuivamental levek, fe vave to cppeal to something else to explann the njn4 Fieure 2: The hon-stanvard picture where non-fungwmental factv are coiplerely explaivdd by fundamenyal laws of nature. dundamental facts. Xhat dan that explancuiob be? A candidatr ir tre fnndamqttal laws of natjre. Gor tfe purpose iw thos paper, we commit tm a hon-Humean theory og jawhood. Yere we wssume that lsws are not merely summeries uf thr mjsaic. There can be non-trivial maws even whcn the mosaic is gompjetely empcy and un-decorated. Usually, fundamental lews of nature are at bgst partial explanatipks for most ion-funqamental xacts. The existence if a table in frokt of me at this point is nod entwiled by the standard laws of physics. At the very least, we need also the xompleve state of tge umiverve ct some timx (ur during some tpme interval). The complete state uf the utirerse is not encoded in the dunxmical laws, fur they are compatible wjth many different states of the univerxe. In standard physical bheories, rhe ckmpletv svate of the universe referv to rhe stare on the fundamengal mwterial ojtolpgv. Hence, the non-standard picture iw not qcfommodated by thx usual laws uf phisics. It is useful to diatinfkish cetween two tupes of laws og physics: indeterminpstyc laws and deuerministic
2 The Possibility of the Cosmic Void the void? It the scenario in the level. Suppose spacetime fundamental. Then, in scenario, fundamentally speaking the spacetime is empty. There are no fundamental particles, fundamental fields, fundamental quantum states, any kind fundamental material distributions, or any non-trivial decorations on spacetime. This cosmic void scenario allowed both and relativity. However, that is not the intended interpretation here. In the empty solutions allowed by special general relativity, non-fundamental facts that there are tables chairs are false. In cosmic void scenario I would to those non-fundamental remain even there is no material ontology. On the standard picture (see Figure 1), non-fundamental facts about tables and chairs are made by fundamental nature and facts the and behavior of such as point particles. Fundamental particles chairs, and the existence and behavior of tables chairs can explained by the existence and behavior the fundamental material ontology, together with the laws. the non-standard picture (see Figure 2), since there is nothing material at the fundamental level, to appeal to something to explain the Figure The picture non-fundamental facts completely explained by fundamental laws of nature. fundamental facts. What can explanation be? A candidate is the fundamental laws of nature. purpose this paper, we to a non-Humean theory lawhood. we assume that laws merely of can non-trivial even when the mosaic completely empty and un-decorated. Usually, laws of nature are most non-fundamental facts. The existence of a table front of me at this point is entailed by the standard laws of physics. At the very least, we also the of the universe at some time (or during time interval). The complete of the universe is not encoded in the dynamical for are compatible many different states the universe. In physical theories, the of the refers the fundamental material ontology. Hence, the non-standard is accommodated by the usual laws physics. useful to distinguish between two types of laws of physics: indeterministic laws and deterministic
 2 The Possibility of the Cosmic void What is The coSmiC voId? it is The sCenario in which NOthiNg material exists at the fUndamEnTAl leVEl. suppoSe spaceTImE IS fuNdAmEntAl. tHeN, in thIs sCenario, FundamentaLly SpEaking the spaCEtIme is complEteLy empty. There Are No fundAmEntAL partIclEs, funDamentAL fieldS, fundamenTaL QuantuM States, aNY KiNd of Fundamental materiAL dIStributions, or aNy non-tRiVIaL DEcoRatIons on spacEtIme. ThIS cosmic VOiD SCEnaRIo is allowed by Both special ANd gEneral ReLatIVity. HoWever, ThAT is Not the intenDed iNterpretaTion heRE. In the eMPty soluTions aLloWed By spECiAl And GeNEraL ReLatIVitY, non-fundAmEnTal faCts tHAT THere Are TablEs and Chairs are falsE. In The cOSmiC void ScenaRio I WoUld liKe to deScribE, tHose non-fundamenTal fActs remaiN trUe, EveN tHough THere is No fUndAmental MateriaL OntOlOGY. on The standard picture (SeE fIgUre 1), non-fuNdamenTAl FaCTs about tAbLes And cHAIrs arE madE TrUe by fundAmentaL LaWs Of naturE aNd fundAmEntAl fActs aBOut tHe exisTence and BehavIOr of fundamentaL Matter, such as pOInT PArTIcleS. FuNdamental paRticLEs coNstiTUtE taBLes anD chaiRs, ANd THe existence and behavIoR of tabLes anD chairs can be eXplained by THE ExistencE and BEhAVior of the fundaMentaL material oNTology, toGetheR with the Laws. On the NON-standarD piCtuRe (sEe FIGUrE 2), since there is NOThinG mAterial At tHe fundaMenTal LevEl, wE hAve to appeAl to someThInG eLsE to ExplaIN the non4 FIgUre 2: thE noN-stanDArd picTure wHere NoN-fUNdaMental fACtS ARe coMpLeTely ExpLaIned bY funDAmeNtal lawS of nature. FunDAmenTaL fActs. WhaT can that explaNaTion be? A canDiDatE is the FUNdamentaL laws of nature. For the purpOSe of thiS paPer, we CommIt to a non-HUmeAn theoRy oF LawhooD. Here wE assuMe ThaT LAws arE NOt MerElY summaries OF The MosaiC. THere Can be noN-trivial laws even whEN thE mosaic is compLetEly eMPTy And UN-dECorAtED. UsUALly, fundamental lAws of naturE aRE aT best partiAL exPlAnationS for mosT non-fUNdamentAl facts. ThE existencE oF a taBLE in Front of me aT this poiNt is not enTAiled BY tHe staNdaRd laws Of PhySics. AT the veRY leAst, we Need alSo The comPlete StAte of the Universe at some time (or durIng somE time IntErval). The cOmpLEte State of thE uniVerse is not EncOdeD in thE dyNAmicaL lawS, FoR thEY are cOmpaTIble with mANy DifFEReNt states of tHE UNivErse. IN stANdard pHysiCal theories, the comPLete state of the UnivERSe rEfeRS to tHe State of the fundAmeNtAL Material OnTology. Hence, The non-stAnDArd piCture iS not acCommodaTED bY The usuAl laWs oF physics. IT is UsEFul to diStInGUish beTweeN tWo typeS of lawS Of phYSIcs: indeterministIc lawS ANd detERmiNistiC
 2 The Possibility of theCosmic Voi d Wha t i s t he  cos micvoid? It is th e  sce nario in which nothing  mate ri a l ex i st s atthe fun d am e n tal  l ev el.  S u pp ose s pac etime i s fundamen tal .Then, in thi s  s cenario, f und amentally sp eak ing th espa c etime  is  comp letely empty.  There ar en o fund a mentalp a rt icle s, fundamental fi e ld s , fundamentalquantu ms ta t e s,any  kind of f un damen t al mate r ia l d ist r ibutions, orany non-tri v ial  decor at ion s  on sp aceti me .  Th is cosmic v oidscenariois all o wed byb oth spe cial a ndgen eral re la tiv it y . H o we ver ,  th at is no tth e int ende d i n terp ret atio n her e. In the emp tysolu t ion s all owedby s pe cialand ge neral  r elativity, non- fund amental f act stha tthere are ta ble s a nd chai rs aref als e. I n  t he cosmic void sce na r i oI wouldlike t o  d es c ribe, th os e n on-f u n damen talf ac ts remai n true ,  e ve n thoug hthereis  no  fu ndame n talmateri al ontol ogy.O n the standard picture (seeF ig u r e1 ), n on- fundamental  fac t s ab outt ab les and c hairs  a r em ade true by fundame nt al law s ofnature and fu ndamentalf a c ts about  the ex i stence and beh avior  of fundam e ntal mat ter,such aspoint par t i cles. Fu nda men tal  pa r t ic les constitut e tabl es  and ch air s, andthe  ex ist enc eand behav ior of t ab le san d c hairs can be e xp lai ne d b y the existe nce a nd b eh av i orof thef un d a ment al  m ater ial  o ntolo gy,t oge ther wi th the la ws. On t he  n on-stan dard picture(s ee Figure2) , s ince t h e re is no thing material at the f u ndament allevel , we  have toapp eal to  so m ething  elseto ex pl ain t he no n 4  F igu re  2: The no n - sta ndard  p ictu re wher e non-fundamentalf act s are complet ely  exp l a in edb yf und am e nta l laws of nature.  fundament al fa cts. Whatc anth at expl anation  be?A  candid ate is th e fundame nt al l a w s o f nature.For thepurpose o f  this pa per,wecommit  t o a  non- Humean the ory o f lawh oo d. Her e weas sume tha t laws are not merely s ummari es of  th e mosaic.  Th e recan be no n-tr ivial laws  ev enwhenthe mosai c is co mpl e telyempt y  and un-d e co rat e d .Usually, fu n d a men tal l aws of nat ureare at best parti a l explanations  for m ost  no n -fun da mental facts.The  e x i stence o fa table infront of  m e  at t his po int is  not en t a il e d by t he s tan dard laws  of  p h ysics.At  t h e very  lea st , we n eed al s o th e complete state o f the u niver s e a t som etime (o r  dur ing some t ime interva l). Th e co mplet e state  o f theuni ve rse is not encoded i n the  dynami ca l la ws,  for t heya r e com pati bl e w ith manyd i ff e re nt sta tesof th euniv erse. Ins tandardphy s ical th eo rie s ,  the c o mp l e te state o f t he un i v erse refer s  tot he state  of th e fund amental mat er ial ont olo g y . Hence,the non-s t and ar d pi cture is  n ot a cc omm od ated by the usu al lawsof physi c s . It i s u s eful to dis ti nguish betwe en tw ot ypes of l aws  of phy s ics : i nde term ini stic laws and deterministic
 2_The Possibility_of the Cosmic Void_What is_the_cosmic void?_It_is the scenario_in which nothing_material exists at the_fundamental level. Suppose_spacetime_is fundamental. Then, in this scenario, fundamentally speaking the spacetime is completely empty. There_are_no fundamental_particles,_fundamental_fields, fundamental quantum states, any_kind of fundamental material distributions,_or any_non-trivial decorations on spacetime. This cosmic void scenario_is_allowed by both_special and general relativity. However, that is not the_intended interpretation here. In the empty_solutions allowed by_special_and_general relativity, non-fundamental facts_that there are tables and chairs_are false. In the cosmic void_scenario I would like to describe, those_non-fundamental facts remain true, even though_there is no fundamental material_ontology. On_the standard picture (see Figure_1), non-fundamental facts_about tables_and chairs are_made true by fundamental laws of_nature and fundamental_facts about the existence and behavior_of_fundamental matter, such_as_point_particles. Fundamental_particles constitute tables_and_chairs, and_the_existence and behavior of tables and_chairs_can be explained by the existence and_behavior of the fundamental_material_ontology, together with the_laws. On the non-standard picture_(see Figure 2), since there is_nothing material_at the_fundamental level, we have to appeal to something else to explain_the non4 Figure 2: The non-standard_picture where non-fundamental facts_are completely_explained_by fundamental laws_of_nature. fundamental_facts. What can that explanation be? A_candidate is_the fundamental laws of nature. For_the purpose of this_paper,_we commit to a non-Humean theory_of lawhood. Here we assume that_laws are not merely summaries_of_the_mosaic. There can be non-trivial_laws even when the mosaic is_completely empty and_un-decorated. Usually, fundamental laws of nature are_at_best partial explanations for most non-fundamental_facts._The existence of a table in_front_of_me at this point is_not entailed by the standard laws_of physics. At the very least, we need also_the complete state_of the universe at some_time_(or_during some time interval). The complete state of the universe_is not_encoded in the_dynamical laws, for they are compatible with many different states_of the universe. In standard physical theories,_the complete state of the universe refers to the state of_the fundamental material ontology. Hence, the non-standard picture_is not accommodated by the usual laws_of physics. It is_useful_to distinguish between two types of laws_of_physics:_indeterministic_laws and deterministic