Grounding and Reflexivity

Grounding is commonly assumed to induce a strict partial ordering: it is said to be asymmetric, transitive and irreflexive. Why it is that we ought to believe that grounding is irreflexive, in particular, appears to turn in large part on the impossibility of any instance of it being reflexive. But why is this? Indeed, how would things need to be such that anything could ground itself? And why is this so bad? This paper explores metaphysical and explanatory reasons for supposing that nothing can ground itself. The discussion centers on the thoughts that there are problems with bootstrapping, the priority ordering and necessary beings, and finds them wanting. A conclusion is reached that the best reasons we have for supposing that grounding is irreflexive are going to be epistemic rather than metaphysical.