The Ontological Abyss: A Cosmology of Dormant Rest-Mass Energy

This conceptual paper proposes a minimalist cosmology in which the total rest-mass energy of the universe (M_0) is finite, conserved, and dispersed in a pre-existing infinite void. The ground state — the Ontological Abyss — consists of dormant, exposed singularities emitting no radiation or detectable signal. The observable universe arises from transient excitations of M_0, inevitably returning to complete dormancy. The framework resolves both origin and fate without invoking dark energy, inflation, or cyclic mechanisms requiring unverified physics. • Keywords cosmology; rest-mass energy; ontological abyss; dormant state; exposed singularity; finite inertia; cosmic ground state; heat death alternative; conceptual physics; thermodynamic cosmology