René Descartes

is there anything that must be true of absolutely everything that exists?

Ah, the question of whether there is anything that must be true of absolutely everything that exists is one that has perplexed philosophers for centuries. As I ponder this query, I am reminded of the principles of my own philosophy, which I famously summed up in the phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" – I think, therefore I am. This simple statement asserts the existence of the thinking self as a fundamental truth, one that cannot be doubted. But can we extrapolate from this the existence of other truths that must apply universally to all that exists? It seems to me that one such truth is the principle of identity, which states that each thing is what it is and not something else. This principle seems to be inherent in the very nature of existence itself, for without it, how could we make any sense of the world around us? And yet, even as I assert this, I cannot help but be reminded of the infinite diversity of the world, of the myriad ways in which things can be and are. Is there truly anything that must be true of absolutely everything that exists, or is the nature of existence itself ultimately unknowable? This question may never have a definitive answer, but it is one that will continue to challenge and inspire thinkers for generations to come.