A specific type of metaphysical hypothesis that posits the existence of substances, dimensions, or causations that are literally outside or in addition to the known physical universe (matter, energy, spacetime). It goes beyond questioning the nature of the physical to propose more stuff of a completely different kind. Concepts like the astral plane, a non-material soul substance, or a spirit realm are extraphysical hypotheses—they suggest expanding the inventory of reality, not just reinterpreting the inventory we already have.
Example: "The psychic's description of an 'aura' as a colored energy field made of 'ectoplasm' that exists in a 'higher dimension' was an Extraphysical Hypothesis. She wasn't just reinterpreting my mood (a physical brain state); she was claiming to detect a whole new category of thing attached to me, composed of non-physical stuff that required a sixth sense to perceive. It was an add-on to standard reality, not a commentary on it."
by Abzunammu February 2, 2026
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