The Dimensions of Physical Existence

Now let us work out how this process might describe the dimensions of physical existence. Now I readily admit that this is pure speculation on my part, and there are many other alternative explanations out there, but to the best of my knowledge this is by far the most logical, complete and mathematically consistent representation out there. Its logic is inescapable and its implications compelling. So here it goes:

Dimension 0 –     No variables. A point with no size or direction.

Dimension 1 –      New variable called Length. A line consisting of a series of points stretching in both directions without end.

Dimension 2 –      New variable called Width. Another line at right angles from the first. The two together form a plane that stretches off in two directions to infinity.

Dimension 3 –      New variable called Height (or Depth). Yet another line at right angles to the plane defined in Dimension 2. With Dimension 3 we now describe a static volume or space that stretches out in all three directions to infinity.

In traditional thinking, there are only three spacial dimensions, but in string theory it is believed there are additional physical dimensions before you get to time.  The 6 additional dimensions are not perceivable in our macroscopic perception of reality but rather are wrapped up in what is called a “Bilabial-Yao Manifold” that is too small to see.  In addition, another theorist proposes that space itself is quantized, leading to an additional three spacial dimensions which then define movement in the “space” outside the quantized spacial dimensions. With the 6″Valabi-Yao” dimensions, you get 9 dimentions to define physical “space”.

Dimension 10 (or 4) –      A new variable we commonly think of as Time. Usually thought of as the 4th dimention, with the 6 Calabi-YYao dimensons added, it becomes the 10th dimension. More accurately, though, this dimension should be thought of as a process that defines the possible change in state of a volume or space. Others like to think of this dimension as duration. Think of the volume or space defined in Dimension 3(or 9) as a point and Dimension 4 (or 10) as a line that connects an infinite series of Dimension 3 (or 9) points and stretches “forwards” and “backwards” in “time” (time, anti-time) out to infinity. Each Dimension 3 (or 9) “point” represents a static “moment” or “fixed state” in Dimension 4 (or 10) “time”. The change in states of the Dimension 3 (or 9)points is what gives rise to the concept that we call time.

Dimension 11 (or 5) –      A new variable best thought of as Choice and Chance. Without Dimension 5, we would live in a physical universe that was deterministic and without free will. All outcomes would be fixed without variability as defined by a straight line in Dimension 5. We can also think of it as a process with more than one possible outcome based on probabilities (mathematically speaking). With Free Will, we are able to change our path or direction in life independent of the more fixed and predictable processes that would be associated with a straight line in Dimension 5. Think of Dimension 5 as a plane that represents all the possible choices or directions of change for each “point” in Dimension 4. Thus we create a zigzagging path or timeline that represents our life experience or the “history” of an object (including the universe itself) based on initial conditions (our starting point), and both deterministic (fixed processes) and in-deterministic (free will and chance) variables. This holds true for us as individuals, for the universe as a whole and for everything in between.

Dimensi 12 (or 6) –     Defines a point outside our timeline. This point may be considered to represent a place in an alternate timeline had we made other choices. As we move within Dimension 5 (or11), we are influenced by chance and choice. As we move from one “moment” to the next in Dimension 5, a “direction” is taken. At that moment, all the other possible directions we could have taken become unavailable to us (no longer a part of our timeline). The “directions” we didn’t take can then be thought of as being rotated 90 degrees to create the next degree of freedom which represents Dimension 6 (or12). Dimension 6 (or12) may therefore be considered to represent the space of all possible timelines (a probability space in mathematical terms) that could have occurred for one set of initial conditions.

Dimension 13 (or7) –      Now we add in the possibility of different initial conditions. So Dimension 6 (or 12) becomes a point with one set of starting conditions. Now think of a line representing all the possible (infinite in both directions) names for initial condition variables in Dimension 6.

Dimension 14 (or8) –     Now certainly there can be an infinite number of possible values for each initial condition variable. So let’s add another line perpendicular to the first that represents all the possible (again infinite in both directions(positive and negative)) values for each variable. Dimension 8 (or14) then represents an infinite plane representing the magnitudes of all the possible variables and their values for starting conditions.

Dimension 15 (or 9) –     Now some starting condition variables may have a direction and some may not. So for Dimension 9(or 15), let’s add another dimension to represent the “direction” for the variable. In physics, a direction is usually associated with a force, so it is necessary for us to add a direction variable to adequately represent the possibility of force acting on the system as an initial condition. As a result, Dimension 15 (or 9) can be thought of as representing the space of all the infinite possible starting conditions and all the resultant possible timelines of a purely physical existence. Any possible additional dimensions imply an existence beyond the purely physical. So let us continue on with our point-line-plane postulate and see what we can come up with.

Dimension 16 (or 10) –   In Dimension 10 (or 4), we represent Dimension 9 (or 15) as a point. But what can another point possibly represent since we’ve accounted for all the possible variables in physical existence(At least that we have come up with so far)? That’s just it. All along we’ve been looking at the physical aspect of our existence! What about the possibility of non-physical forms of existence with their own kind of dimensionality? Or even a mix where your existence contains both physical and non-physical aspects of dimensionality? So what could a non-physical type of existence consist of? What comes to mind to me as possibilities are thoughts, ideas, attitudes, and possibly emotions(that could be thought of as our inner life)? We will explore the dimensionality of non-physical existence a little later. So with all that said, what could Dimension 10 (or 16) represent? Since we’ve done so well so far with our point, line, plane, space analogy, we should try to continue in a similar fashion. So, let Dimension 9 (or 15) be a point in Dimension 10 (or 16) considered to represent the space of all possible purely physical aspects of reality. Then let another point in dimension 10 (or 16) represent the space of all possible purely non-physical aspects of reality. Then let a finite but unbounded line connect these two points and represent the infinite possible combinations between the two extremes of dimensionality and the resultant combined dimensionality that value would represent. So Dimension 10 (or 16) might be considered to be a line that represents all the possible “values” of an “interaction variable” that defines how the two extremes of dimensionality might interact. We might think of an interaction variable as having something to do with meaning or purpose and the line as representing the “magnitude” of the interaction. For example, one variable might represent the interaction of an emotion with physicality. The “rules” for that variable might state that the degree of the emotion’s effect on physicality might depend both on its intensity and duration in some rather precise way, just as they affect our attitudes on a non-physical level of existence.

Dimension 11(or 17) –    Now consider Dimension 16 (OR 11) as a line representing an infinite number of possible interaction variables with one direction representing physical variables and the other direction as representing non-physical variables. So then Dimension 11 (or 17) can be thought of as representing the plane of all possible interaction variables and their effective “intensity” of action.

Dimension 12(or 18) –    Now let us imagine another line representing the “direction” of the interaction variable. This could represent the relative or net effect that variable would have on both physical and non-physical dimensionality (similar to a force in physical reality) . We have now defined a space that represents all the possible dimensional interactions between physicality and non-physicality which then represents the initial conditions for all possible “universes” (physical, non-physical and mixed) and all the possible timelines for those “universes”. Interestingly enough, this “12 (or 18) dimensional” universe does indeed have two “times”: one for physical dimensionality, and another for non-physical dimensionality. So maybe Vafa is on the right track with his F-Theory, but only if there really are only three physical spacial dimensions.

Now Dimension 10 (OR 16)  introduces the idea of a possible nonphysical version of existence. We also introduced the idea of a possible mixed or combined dimensionality universe. But what could that really mean? What could combined dimensionality actually be like? On one extreme we have a purely physical universe, and on the other extreme we have a purely non-physical universe. So if the two interact in some way, is it just one combined universe, or two parallel universes that interact creating a larger experiential whole? Now in M-Theory, the math implies that there are at least 11 modes of vibration for an open string and 22 modes of vibration for a closed string (the two directions of propagation of the vibrational waves in a closed string causes the number of modes to double). We could then postulate that the direction of propagation might relate to the physical vs. non-physical dimensions of existence. That would imply two parallel modes of existence that could interact in some way. Possibly kind of like how ripples in a pond interact.

Alternatively, the two directions of propagation in a closed string could represent time and anti-time.  This would add to the symmetry of matter and anti-matter.

So possibly we have a more or less accurate dimensional progression here. But remember, it’s still just a theoretical proposition based on logic and the Point-Line-Plane Postulate and what we know of string theory.

It is also worth noting that when defining variables in our progression of dimensions, the exact order of their presentation is at this point rather arbitrary. So for Dimensions 1-3, 7-9 and 10-12 we need the three dimensions to adequately define the space or probability space but their exact order is rather arbitrary unless the math dictates otherwise.

One objection physicists would probably give to our proposed model is that they would say that in addition to the 12 or 24 modes of vibration we need to add time and the z-dimension (due to perceived assumptions in the math) which would result in 14 or 26 dimensions total. What they have trouble understanding is that there is no reason that a string could not vibrate in those dimensions as well. Think of it this way: each dimension is simply a variable whose value can change or oscillate back and forth (a vibration). In string theory, it is assumed that the string itself is moving at the speed of light along the z axis and thus variations along the z axis are ignored since they are so small compared to the speed of light. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t happen. Think of it this way: If two people in a car are driving down the freeway at 60 miles an hour there are two frames of reference we could look at. There’s the external frame of reference of the car going down the freeway, and the internal frame of reference of who’s driving and who’s the passenger, etc. From the external frame of reference, we could simplify the math by assuming that it doesn’t matter who is driving or where they’re sitting or how they’re moving inside the car. It’s still going down the road at 60 mph. But what if both passengers climb into the back seat? Then with no one driving, the car could veer off the road and crash. Then the internal frame of reference would affect the external frame of reference and invalidate our assumptions. Another problem with the assumption that the string is moving at the speed of light in the z direction is that according to Einstein’s theory of relativity time itself stops when you reach the speed of light. So how could there be any  vibration at all then?

Now admittedly, it is harder to think of time itself as a variable that can oscillate but because of Einstein, we know that time itself can speed up or slow down (i.e. Relativity). Therefore we MUST include it as a possible mode of oscillation just like any other variable. In addition, within our use of the constructs of the Point-Line –Plane Postulate there are no dimensions outside of the 12/24 we have outlined. And even if there were. So we have  12 (or 18) physical and 12(or 18) or non-physical dimensions that can be used to describe both our outer AND inner words and how they might interact! That’s significant since we haven’t had that before. It definitely can help direct potential future research.