What does the conceptual framework of space have to offer us?
Part II of II
...In essence, what is being described with the definitions of ‘space’ is that there exists a ‘place’ within which the physical items of mass and energy can be placed.
Said another way, you think you exist.
You think the universe, composed of the planet earth, the sun, the stars, the galaxies, and all the interesting ‘stuff’ such as black holes, comets, novas, light, exist also.
The definition of space simply agrees and makes room for these things, creating a place within which these things can exist.
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Why include a definition of space-time?
This second definition is included because we had always thought of the universe being composed of matter, things you can touch such as wood, glass, plastic, and energy, things you cannot touch such as light, heat, and magnetic fields.
We had never been able to associate time as a property of matter and energy.
Minkowski began dabbling with the mathematical ideas of geometry and Einstein began dabbling with the mathematical ideas of physics.
What fell into place, at least with formulas and scribbles on paper, was the idea that the universe was not three dimensional, but rather four dimensional.
Space now had length, height, depth, and time.
Space, a theoretical location, was created within which a universe could be placed.
End