Questions like ‘Why is there anything at all?’ ‘Why are things-in-general as they actually are?’ ‘Why is the law structure of the world as it is?’ cannot be answered within the standard causal framework. For causal explanations need inputs: they are essentially transformational (rather than formational pure and simple). They can address themselves to specific issues distributively and seriatim, but not collectively and holistically. If we persist in posing the sorts of global questions at issue, we cannot hope to resolve them in orthodox causal terms. Does this mean that such questions are improper?