Quote:
Originally Posted by Stonius
I've always felt very uncomfortable with the idea of dark energy/matter. It feels a little too close to the method Theists use, interposing a preferred mechanism for things they don't understand, and then looking for the evidence that would support their beliefs (very unscientific, IMO, but what do I know?).
Okay, so the expansion of the universe is accelerating, and galaxies rotate faster than they should. Nothing wrong with saying 'We don't know why, and it could be caused by a number of factors'. But calling it dark matter/energy seems predicated on an expected result and seems particularly narrow. I'll stick my neck out and say that I don't think they'll ever find an exotic form of dark matter or energy. Far more likely that they'll discover new physics that explains it, much like a certain patent clerk did a while back.
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Well, this is a method - you have phenomenon, you try to explain it the way you can (for now).... you name the explanation in somewhat colloquial language (“dark matter” – nothing wrong with that (or any other) name IMO per se – it only reflects the behaviour (can’t see it)).
For example, I still can’t comprehend why gauge theories are called “gauge”, but I understand (or at least I hope so) what the theories are about. You just have to be member of gang to speak their lingo properly
