Is a hole something in its own right or just an absence of something (nothing surrounded by something)?

Question

An example of this would be shadows: do they exist or are they just an optical illusion created by the absence of light?

I guess another more philosophical definition of a hole/gap would be: a certain material surrounding another material completely

Answer 1

That's a cool question. At first I wanted to say "yes, it's something on its own" but then...really, it is only there due to something making it appear to be there.

However, is the Grand Canyon not real because it's a big hole? I'm sticking with my first thought and saying it's "something." : )

Answer 2

holes are only holes from a given standpoint of the observer. A hole is defined as nothingness where this in itself would be impossible. There will always be something to fill the void rather it be observed with a human eye or other means. Air in itself is something and if all that is filling the void is air how can there be a hole. To answer your question there is no such thing as a hole.
Shadows are created by light as well as the absence of light reflecting off of an object of solid in nature. They can only exist when light is present and has no solid bases. therefore unless conditions are right they can not be seen so are as you put it optical illusions.

Answer 3

It's the absence of something in which the surroundings have.

Example:
There is a forest, then in the middle there is a clearing where there are no trees.
When u look at it, it would seem like a hole in the middle of the forest.
However, if you are on a plain ground, and there are also no trees, it wouldn't be considered a hole, would it?

Answer 4

OK

I would agree that a hole is an absence of something but it is that something that cretes the hole.
So a hole is an absence of something surrounded by a presence of something....

Shadows have no substance so they do not exist in any physical sense however they are in effect an absence of the transmission of photons compared to an presence of the transmission of photons in an adjacent area, so like the hole they cannot be defined in isolation.
In fact you can have shadows within shadows where a gradient of light exists.

If you would like another puzzle....

Does the set of all sets that do not contain themselves contain itself ?

Answer 5

The material around a hole creates the hole.

The light around the shadow creates the shadow.

It's really a simple notion...

If I draw a chalk outline of a person on the ground, you'll see the shape of a person, even though there is nothing in the middle... simple!

Answer 6

A hole is not nothing, however it does have a dependent relationship. It does not exist unless something exist around it. If there is an atmosphere, then, holes are filled with something. In space..............? By definition, it is a hollowed PLACE in something solid.

My turn: If you fill a hole in dirt with cement, then take the cement out and put it somewhere else, is it the same hole? or is it a new hole? or not a hole at all?

Answer 7

Something can't surround nothing. Holes may be void of the surrounding material, but they are not vacuums. They contain particles just as the air you breathe contains particles. Do you inhale nothing?

A shadow exists as well - it is a differential in light particles.

Answer 8

Shadows? THEY ARE just illusions... you remember the ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE? the shadows are plain illusions...it hinders our pursuit for TRuth....

A hole.... is nothing but a void surrounded by somethings... a hole is but a name that we give to an empty waste of space ...
The hole is dependent of the something.. cause otherwise- it would simply be just an empty space- not a hole...

Answer 9

shadows need light in order to exist, so no on that one; and a hole is just a result of a gap in matter

Answer 10

Does a hole cast a shadow?