Is Darkness Simply a Lack of Light?

[Anttech]

(stupid question)

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but how can you define darkness, ie, would it be exceptable to define darkeness as a lack of light or lack of photons?

(/stupid question)

 

[Eh]

A lack of photons striking the retina.

 

[Anttech]

eh yeh that's what I thought, how would you define darkness without a person being there?... I think just lack of photons?

PS being Greek I like you signature! :)

 

[Eh]

Yeah, you could define it as being a lack of photons in the visible spectrum. Other spectrums of light could be present, but the retina will not respond to them. This absense of any signal from our eyes is interpreted by our brains as "darkness" or black.