Dark matter — beyond the anthropic world?
Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that makes up about 85% of the matter in the universe. It cannot be observed directly because it does not interact with electromagnetic radiation. However, their existence is inferred from their gravitational effects on visible matter.
There is several pieces of evidence for the existence of dark matter:
Rotation curves of galaxies:
The rotation speeds of stars in galaxies should decrease the farther away they are from the center. However, observations show that velocities remain constant at long distances. This suggests that there is an invisible mass (dark matter) in the galaxies that provides the extra gravity.
Gravitational lensing:
Galaxies and galaxy clusters can bend light from distant objects, making them appear distorted and magnified. The strength of the distortion is consistent with the amount of dark matter derived from other observations.
Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB):
The CMB is a faint microwave radiation that originated in the early universe. CMB’s analysis shows that the universe had an uneven density distribution in the early stages, which later evolved into galaxies and galaxy clusters. The amount of dark matter required to explain this density distribution is consistent with other estimates.
There are many different candidates for dark matter, but none have been clearly identified. Some of the most popular candidates include:
Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs):
WIMPs are hypothetical particles that only weakly interact with normal matter. They are a popular candidate for dark matter, as they could easily explain the observed properties of dark matter.
Axions:
Axions are other hypothetical particles that are even lighter than WIMPs. They may have been formed by the transformation of heavier particles in the early stages of the universe.
Sterile neutrinos:
Neutrinos are subatomic particles that interact very weakly with normal matter. There are three known types of neutrinos, but there may be other “sterile” neutrinos that do not interact with normal matter. Sterile neutrinos could be part of dark matter.
Search for dark matter
There are many different experiments that search for dark matter. Some of these experiments look for direct interactions with dark matter, while others look for indirect evidence such as the production of neutrinos or gamma rays through the annihilation of dark matter particles.
So far, no experiment has directly detected dark matter. However, the search for dark matter is one of the most active areas of research in astrophysics and cosmology. It is likely that dark matter will be discovered in the next few years or decades.
It is possible that dark matter is not a new type of matter, but rather a manifestation of our incomplete understanding of gravity. Some alternative theories suggest that the excessive gravity attributed to dark matter may actually be due to the thermodynamic distribution of vacuum quanta in the expanding universe, rather than new particles, that dark matter is not a new substance. Modified theories of gravity, such as MOND, aim to explain galactic dynamics without dark matter by modifying Newtonian gravity below a certain acceleration scale, suggesting that gravity may not be fully understood on galactic scales. The lack of direct evidence of dark matter particles, despite extensive research, raises the question of whether it is indeed a new substance or a loophole in our theory of gravity.
So, in summary, while dark matter is currently the standard explanation for the lack of gravity, it is plausible that the observed effects, attributed to dark matter, are actually expressions of an incomplete understanding of gravity itself, and are not a new type of gravity. The reason we may not have developed sensors to detect it could be that it is not a new substance, but rather a modification of gravity that has not yet been included in our theories.
The idea that dark matter could potentially be identical to gravity is a new consideration. Points that could support this notion are:
1. Gravitational effect without a visible source: Dark matter is mainly perceived through its gravitational effects on visible matter and light. It does not interact via electromagnetic or strong nuclear forces, making it a purely gravitational phenomenon.
2. Invisible matter: Dark matter does not emit or absorb light, which means that it can only be detected by its gravitational effect. This could indicate that dark matter is a manifestation of gravity in a form that we don’t yet fully understand.
3. No direct interaction: Dark matter does not appear to have any interaction other than gravity, which distinguishes it from “normal” matter, which also exhibits other forces such as the electromagnetic force.
It is possible that we are reaching the epistemological limits of our existence here. For us, reality is the physical world as we know it, which we can explore with our means. Let’s assume that there were a world beyond this physicality that we perceive, then it would not be accessible to us, even though it would have an effect on us. It would therefore be outside the physical framework that we can detect. This would mean that there would be either unknown forms of matter, or an unknown kind of force, which would interact with matter as we know it and shape it as it presents itself to us.
Our cognitive capacity is initially limited by the limits of our cognitive apparatus. Our senses, our brains, and our cultural experiences influence how we perceive and interpret the world. Cognition has a reconstructive character and does not represent a “true-to-life” image of the world. Our brains reconstruct reality using symbols, language, and cultural knowledge. The question of whether there is a world beyond our perception leads to further considerations. Invisible worlds and unknown forces: Suppose there is an invisible world that lies outside our physical framework. This world could be made of unknown matter or a new kind of force. This invisible world would interact with and influence our known matter. We could feel its effects without directly perceiving it. Possible scenarios could be:
Parallel universes: Perhaps parallel universes exist that affect us but are not directly accessible to us.
Other dimensions: There could be additional dimensions of space that we cannot perceive, but that interact with our world.
Quantum phenomena: Quantum phenomena such as entanglement and tunneling could create invisible connections between particles.
These are all speculations that result from our neuronal modal mind, and are therefore already epistemically limited. Since philosophy uses empirical data, but is not an empirical science, such considerations are allowed.
It must be mentioned here that unknown matter or forces or whatever have nothing to do with what is called cosmic or spiritual mind. For these are conceptual objectifications of ideas that elevate human thought to substance.
Ultimately, the question is, are we adapted to the physical world in such a way that we can fully recognize it (which is, of course, tautological), or are we, as neuronally perceiving beings, part of the infinitely possible. Things like dark matter and energy are more likely to speak in favor of it.
So there are no Platonic ideas, nor is there a Hegelian world spirit.
Supplement:
We humans look at the world from a first-person perspective, and that first-person perspective is that of the human species. So we have a humanesque subjective view of the world. And that’s what our theories reflect.
What does objectivity mean here? It takes place in the relationship of the human species (or any entity) to the world. It is only in this specific relation that knowledge takes place. There is no other. So ours is just one of an infinite number of them. And if we claim ours is the only correct one, other entities might come forward and claim the same thing.
This view completely excludes any objectivity in Plato’s sense.
This point of view can be broken down to the individual and then there you have the first-person perspective of the individual.
