Neither Solids, Points, nor Lines Exist: Only Closed Surfaces Are Real

This work proposes a fundamental revision of physical ontology by rejecting the physical reality of points, lines, and solids. Points and lines are interpreted as mathematical abstractions arising from limiting procedures, while solids are understood as cognitive integrations of closed surface configurations. The central claim of this paper is that only closed surfaces constitute physically real entities. A closed surface is defined as a continuous structure without boundary that separates interior and exterior regions. This closure condition is identified as the necessary and sufficient condition for physical existence. Volume is shown to be a derived quantity that emerges from the closure of a surface, rather than a primary ontological element. Using surface integral representations, it is demonstrated that volume depends entirely on closed surface configurations. Furthermore, structures that fail to form closed surfaces are interpreted as propagating phenomena, corresponding to physical fields such as electromagnetic waves and gravitational waves. This leads to a unification in which particles are identified with closed surfaces, while fields are identified with non-closed surface configurations. Within this framework, mass is reinterpreted as a measure of closure stability, interactions arise from surface coupling, and space itself emerges from the collective behavior of non-closed surfaces. By eliminating point-like entities, singularities and divergences are naturally avoided. This surface-based ontology provides a unified geometric foundation for physics, replacing point-based models with a consistent description based on closure and propagation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-04-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19450121
Primary Topic
Science Education and Pedagogy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Neither Solids, Points, nor Lines Exist: Only Closed Surfaces Are Real

Tetsuo Konno
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Science Education and Pedagogy
article

Neither Solids, Points, nor Lines Exist: Only Closed Surfaces Are Real

Tetsuo Konno
article en

Abstract

This work proposes a fundamental revision of physical ontology by rejecting the physical reality of points, lines, and solids. Points and lines are interpreted as mathematical abstractions arising from limiting procedures, while solids are understood as cognitive integrations of closed surface configurations. The central claim of this paper is that only closed surfaces constitute physically real entities. A closed surface is defined as a continuous structure without boundary that separates interior and exterior regions. This closure condition is identified as the necessary and sufficient condition for physical existence. Volume is shown to be a derived quantity that emerges from the closure of a surface, rather than a primary ontological element. Using surface integral representations, it is demonstrated that volume depends entirely on closed surface configurations. Furthermore, structures that fail to form closed surfaces are interpreted as propagating phenomena, corresponding to physical fields such as electromagnetic waves and gravitational waves. This leads to a unification in which particles are identified with closed surfaces, while fields are identified with non-closed surface configurations. Within this framework, mass is reinterpreted as a measure of closure stability, interactions arise from surface coupling, and space itself emerges from the collective behavior of non-closed surfaces. By eliminating point-like entities, singularities and divergences are naturally avoided. This surface-based ontology provides a unified geometric foundation for physics, replacing point-based models with a consistent description based on closure and propagation.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society (US)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Science Education and Pedagogy
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