Thread: Dark Matter

Originally Posted by Seraphim

So, scientifically speaking, dark matter is about as observable as the presence of God?

Theoretical
Undetectable
Presence can be inferred from...
"could account for..."



OK, let's go!

Don't dismiss that "inferred from" too lightly. How do we know of or become aware of *anything* other than inferring it through our senses' interpretations of whatever it is they are sensitive to? If we look at a tree, is there really a tree there? We can infer its existence from our sensitivities to a variety of electro-magnetic effects (e.g. light waves, touch). Most would accept that evidence for the existence of a tree. If dark matter's existence can be inferred from gravitational effects why is that less substantial?

I guess it matters what is meant by "dark matter". There are a variety of gravitational observations etc. that indicate *something* heretofore unnoticed is "there". If "dark matter" simply is a short-hand name for referring to "whatever it is that is causing those effects" it pretty much indisputably exists. If we insist on knowing more about it (as we do insist) then perhaps we don't want to give it the respect of acknowledging its existence without a deeper understanding of *what* it is.

Of course if you got in an epistemological knot over the existence of a tree a Zen master would knock you over the head with a branch cut from the tree and ask if you now believe in it. I guess we are not there yet with dark matter.