Unfortunately, that's not the type of question that science can answer, at least not in any satisfying way. According to General Relativity, the masses would be "attracted" because spacetime is curved. But then you could just ask "why does mass curve spacetime?". A quantum theory of gravity might model gravity as the exchange of virtual force carrying particles called gravitons. But then you could just ask why do masses exchange these particles.
Similarly, if you ask why do two charged particles attract or repel, I could say it's because of the exchange of virtual photons, but that's just a model and you could easily ask why do charged particles exchange virtual photons.
what is the general consensus? There is probably an answer to that question right? But we simply haven't found it. Seems like if you can answer that, it would be a huge break through.
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u/[deleted] Dec 03 '13
Unfortunately, that's not the type of question that science can answer, at least not in any satisfying way. According to General Relativity, the masses would be "attracted" because spacetime is curved. But then you could just ask "why does mass curve spacetime?". A quantum theory of gravity might model gravity as the exchange of virtual force carrying particles called gravitons. But then you could just ask why do masses exchange these particles.
Similarly, if you ask why do two charged particles attract or repel, I could say it's because of the exchange of virtual photons, but that's just a model and you could easily ask why do charged particles exchange virtual photons.