Why is there something rather than nothing? A Dissolution under Mutual Exclusivity, Phenomenological Absolutism, and Austere Relativistic Quantum Field Theory

This paper reframes and dissolves Leibniz’s classic question through the framework of Mutual Exclusivity (ME) and Phenomenological Absolutism (PA), grounded in the mandatory commitments of relativistic quantum field theory (QFT). We argue that strict localization of actualized field configurations is not an optional interpretive preference but a philosophical and scientific obligation: it is the only stance that permits coherent metaphysics without ontological inflation or regress, thereby preserving the practicality and parsimony of science itself. By enforcing localized actualizations, frame-dependent simultaneity from special relativity, and uncompromising ontological austerity, we demonstrate that notions of “something” and “nothing,” along with existence and nonexistence, function solely as internal phenomenological constructs acknowledged within mutually exclusive absolute is-nesses (experiential moments). Any attempt to index realizations or posit ontological nothingness triggers an infinite regress, rendering the original question incoherent as it rests on a category error incompatible with both austere physical realism and rigorous metaphysics. We also compare this resolution to historical and contemporary alternatives, address potential objections, and conclude that ME + PA provides the minimal, self-consistent dissolution of the question while integrating seamlessly with empirical physics and consciousness science.