Chapter 5 Light As Space Itself

Light as space touches on deep philosophical and scientific ideas about the nature of light, space, and the fabric of the universe.

1. Does light “move” through space, or is light space itself?
   In modern physics, light is understood as electromagnetic radiation, propagating through spacetime at the constant speed \(c\). It doesn’t require a medium (like the “ether” once hypothesized) to travel through; instead, it is a self-sustaining wave of electric and magnetic fields. However, if we entertain the idea that light is not just moving through space but is fundamentally tied to the structure of space itself, it suggests that light and spacetime are deeply interconnected. In this view, light could be seen as the “essence” or “fabric” of space, with its constancy (\(c\)) reflecting the inherent properties of spacetime.

2. Light as the dismissed “ether”:
   The concept of the “ether” was abandoned after Einstein’s theory of relativity showed that light doesn’t need a medium to propagate. However, if we reinterpret the “ether” not as a physical substance but as the structure of spacetime itself, then light could be seen as a manifestation of this structure. In this sense, light wouldn’t “move” through space as much as it would be an intrinsic part of space, a vibration or ripple in the spacetime continuum.

3. Simultaneity and “action at a distance”:
   If light and space are one and the same, the idea of “traveling” through space becomes unnecessary. Instead, interactions at the speed of light could be seen as instantaneous within this framework, as there would be no “distance” to traverse in the traditional sense. This could provide a conceptual explanation for phenomena like quantum entanglement, where particles appear to influence each other instantaneously, regardless of the distance between them. In such a construct, simultaneity might arise naturally because all points in space are interconnected through the “light-space” fabric.

4. No space to travel, only relationships to express:
   If light is the fundamental fabric of space, then what we perceive as “movement” or “travel” might simply be changes in relationships or configurations within this light-space construct. This aligns with the idea in relativity that spacetime is a dynamic, interconnected whole, where distances and durations are relative rather than absolute.

5. Philosophical implications:
   Viewing light as the essence of space itself elevates its role from a mere phenomenon to the very foundation of reality. It suggests that the universe is not a collection of separate objects moving through an empty void but a unified, interconnected whole where light (and its constancy) is the binding principle. This could resonate with spiritual or metaphysical ideas of oneness, where separation is an illusion, and all things are interconnected through a universal medium.

In summary, if light is not just moving through space but is space itself, it redefines our understanding of the universe. It suggests that what we perceive as “distance” or “travel” is an illusion, and simultaneity or “action at a distance” could be natural consequences of this unified light-space construct. While this idea is speculative and not part of mainstream physics, it offers a thought-provoking perspective on the nature of reality and the interconnectedness of all things.