Introduction
Our journey through black holes and Hawking radiation culminates at the enigmatic singularity—often depicted as an infinitely dense point hidden at a black hole’s core. But what if the singularity is not an ontological entity but a symbolic boundary within the theoretical system?
In this post, we explore the singularity through relational ontology, revealing it as a mathematical and conceptual artefact that marks the limits of our models rather than a physical “thing” lurking in space.
The Singularity as a Coherence Boundary in the System
Within the relational ontology framework, the singularity is understood as a coherence boundary condition within the structured potential of the theoretical system modelling gravitational phenomena.
It marks a point where the system’s internal relational constraints — the patterns that organise possible instantiations — lose coherence: the mathematical expressions describing spacetime curvature no longer maintain finite, stable values, indicating the limits of the system’s applicability.
This coherence boundary is not a literal “point” or physical object inside the cosmos, but a symbolic marker of where the theory’s capacity to coherently describe phenomena breaks down.
Thus, the singularity is a feature of the system as a theory of possibilities, signalling the need for new conceptual frameworks or systems to extend and refine our construals, rather than a fixed ontological entity existing independently “out there.”
Instantiation as Perspectival Cut: Reifying Mathematical Limits
Physicists often speak of the singularity “existing” at the black hole’s core, but this is a perspectival cut that reifies a mathematical breakdown as a spatial-temporal entity.
No observation directly detects the singularity; instead, it is construed as a feature of the system when the model’s internal consistency falters. This reification exemplifies how construal shapes what is taken to be real within scientific discourse.
Constitutive Meaning and Reflexivity
The singularity’s meaning is thus constitutive, arising from the theory’s structure and our interpretive acts. It serves a reflexive function: highlighting the need for new physics—such as quantum gravity—to address these breakdowns.
By marking the edge of current knowledge, the singularity motivates research and frames cosmic mysteries, simultaneously limiting and expanding our conceptual horizons.
Implications for Scientific and Popular Narratives
Understanding the singularity as a symbolic boundary rather than a physical object challenges popular narratives of infinite-density “cosmic monsters.” It invites a more nuanced appreciation of scientific modelling as a process of constructing meaningful constraints rather than revealing ultimate truths.
This relational perspective encourages humility and openness, recognising that singularities signal the limits of theory, not the final word on reality.
Conclusion
Through relational ontology, the singularity becomes less a cosmic enigma and more a signpost—a boundary in the system of gravitational theory where current conceptual frameworks must yield to future innovations.
Together with black holes and Hawking radiation, the singularity completes a triad of phenomena best understood not as fixed objects but as enacted, symbolic phenomena within dynamic scientific practice.
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