The essay proposes an interpretation of "fundamental" that differs from the traditional one. While the latter considers those realities that are at the root of all the others ̶ but whose individuation has been and is still mostly out of our reach ̶ according to the meaning we suggest, fundamental is what exists and constitutes a characterizing aspect of the universe, but we do not clearly know what it is. After sketching a list, without claiming completeness, of basic concepts, we compare two of them, one included (time) and the other not-included (free will) in what is fundamental. Finally, we suggest a possible way of approaching the realities that we regard as fundamental, aware that, even if we succeed in explaining them to a large extent, we will never be able to understand them all.
Giovanni Prisinzano