In order to prove the existence of gravity in intergalactic space, Verlinde assumes a segmentation of the universe, as illustrated in the pie chart below. It shows how western physics divides the universe into dark energy (68.3%), dark matter (26.8%) and ordinary matter (4.9%) for space where the kind of gravity prevails, that is related to stars, gas and dust.

According to Verlinde, all of these parts have to be construed as the emergent properties of the universe based on an abstract foundation of qubits. Verlinde, however, does not mention the dichotomy of the universe, which has existed since Einstein, and is based on their respective earlier worlds (§5.3.1). The reason he did not, probably has to do with the problem that Western physics, for paradigmatic reasons, is hardly aware of this dichotomy. Since Verlinde specifically has to prove the existence of gravity in intergalactic space, his explanation would gain transparency in my opinion, if he did take it into account. Hence a brief recapitulation:

• intergalactic space has spacelike Minkowski spacetime with its '3 + 1' configuration as its earlier world. This part of the universe contains no matter, and is therefore assumed to lack gravity.

• galaxies have timelike gravity spacetime with its '2 + 2' configuration (§5.4.2) as their earlier world. This part therefore includes all matter, where gravity prevails.

Note 50 In this chapter, I use "gravity"  only in the sense of Einstein's modern gravity, unless otherwise stated.

Combining both divisions in the most logical way creates the following situation:

• the dark energy part (68.3%) corresponds to intergalactic space, which is based on the '3 + 1' spacelike spacetime configuration
  

• the part containing ordinary matter and gravity (4.9%) corresponds to galaxies and is based on the '2 + 2' timelike spacetime configuration

• the part of the universe containing dark matter (26.8%) cannot be classified in advance into the dichotomy of the universe, because it is a fictitious part, meant to compensate the aforementioned shortage of gravity in the universe. It is in fact still not clear from which part of the universe this extra gravity can be obtained: from the galaxies or from intergalactic space.

This combining action creates a situation as illustrated below:

Continue to: 6.4.2. Two possibilities with their pros and cons