catch.yossarian said:
Is there a link out there that'll help me "visualize" these higher dimensions, or are they something you can't/aren't supposed to visualize.
Catch, after Sol efforts, I will try to feed you some images which may activate that imagination.
Personally I make next distinction in what are dimensions.
1. Dimensions are coordinates in a framework which make it possible to give a position of an event.
That's your: left-right, up-down, and forward-backward. x,y,z axis in a 3D projection.
2. Dimensions can also indicate levels of different properties (ie. the magnitude differences between different 3D levels, the degree of dynamics, ...)
An example: Think of the three forms of water.
1. Water damp (steam).
You start with chaos.
This dimension has no internal structure. (ie. a volume with water-damp).
But you are able to locate particles on certain points of the x,y,z axis in a 3D projection in this steamy dimension.
2. Some spots cool down and condensate: You get water drops which become a sea.
Water has a kind of dynamic bindings and interactions, ruled by a set of physics laws (cfr. Covalence, cohesion forces, Reynolds number, etc).
The internal binding forces are not strong enough to get a large volume at once, you need to do that indirect (ie. a spoon, glas)
You are able to locate water molecules and H+ and OH- ions on certain points of the x,y,z axis in a 3D projection of this water dimension.
3. Some zones of water cool down strongly and you get 'ice'.
Ice has a rigid structure.
The internal dynamics are reduced.
The water molecules are structured strong enough to get a large volume at once.
Of course volumes can be easily projected of the x,y,z axis in a fixed 3D framework.
You can project these three dimension steps also on cosmology.
1. Stream can represent the chaotic pre-geometry. A type of dynamic background with continuos changing positions.
2. Water can represent dynamic geometry/topology. Here is more density. Observable under certain conditions. (Added: Here is a kind of binding or coupling. Indirect measurement: ie. looking how ice goes up and down indicates the water-level/moves)
3. Ice can represent matter-like (more rigid) structures. Higher 'hardness'. Easy observable by other measurement tools of the same level. (ie. different pieces of ice can clash and influence each other position).
These three dimensions (steam, water, ice) have also an balancing dynamic equilibrium against each other. Qua position: Steam above, ice on water. Water waves move ice. Ice pushes water away.
These three dimensions influence each other also on other levels (ie. steam decouples ice back to water, water transforms in steam, etc).
These a just some general basic ideas which may bring back some conceptual thinking.