If we can refer to nothing as something, does that mean that nothing is actually something?

Question

When you say "nothing", you are talking about something, but you still refer to it as nothing. But even though it is nothing, it still takes up space, so would nothing be an actual form of matter, or would it still just be the absence of space?

Answer 1

The problem is not "Nothingness" in itself, but our perception of it.

We associate a nothing as absence of something which we know of.

A little example. Darkness does not "exist". In fact darkness is the absence of Light. So, we are aware of darkness just because we realize when Light is absent.

So unless we experience something, we will not be aware of the absence of it.

Nothingness in the universe does not exist, since the Universe in itself is a three-dimesnional space - and also because the Universe we experience with our senses is not a true picture of the situation.

I don't concur with you that nothing is an actual form of matter, at least in the wording. Matter is indeed only a small portion of the ingredients making up the Universe. Your terminology would entail that E-M waves and other mass-less energies are non-existent!

However, a deep thought. Well done. It's funny that the Classical Civilisations, in all their wisdom, were unable to come up with such a conjecture. In fact Roman numerals start at I, II, III, IV, etc. and they did not have a symbol for nothing. It was Arab mathematicians who quantified nothingness by inventing the zero!

Answer 2

Nothing, or the concept of it does not require space, is more like non existant area,a concept of mind akin to a hole in the known matter. Nothing is Non Existant, Nothiness is Non Existance. See it is a Comparative to Something, like all things (known and uknown) it requires a frame of referance that the human mind can easily percieve. Makes talking like this kinda easier.

Answer 3

Hi there.
First it has to be cleard if we use this question philosofically or scientificly.
In a philosofers mind nothing is nothing.
For a scientist things change. The meaning of nothing would be defined as black matter which we dont know exactly what it is but it certainly is something.
So in other words black matter or what seems to us(philosofically speaking) as nothing is actualy (in the eyes of a scientist )something.
Get it?

Answer 4

The absence of something is something in and of itself. You cannot refer to nothing as nothing. There is always something. Even if it is only an absence of something.

Answer 5

Yes. Although your conclusion it has matter came out of nowhere.

You can conclude that nothing can be something and something does not have to have matter. Neither does nothing.

But as you have not proved nothing there is no matter if something is nothing.

Answer 6

Youre thinking a little too much.... Nothing is nothing, zero, zip, nada.... When you say nothing that means NOTHING... Not a thing... okay?

Answer 7

Yes!

Answer 8

Do you believe your words create matter?

Answer 9

Could it be dark matter?

Answer 10

Whoa... that's pretty deep.