This paper scrutinises the tenability of a strict conceptual distinction between space(time) and matter via the lens of the debate between modified gravity and dark matter. In particular, we consider Berezhiani and Khoury's novel ‘superfluid dark matter theory’ (SFDM) as a case study. Two families of criteria for being matter and being spacetime, respectively, are extracted from the literature. Evaluation of the new scalar field postulated by SFDM according to these criteria reveals that it is as much (dark) matter as anything could possibly be, but also—below the critical temperature for superfluidity—as much (of a modification of) spacetime as anything could possibly be. A sequel paper examines possible interpretations of SFDM in light of this result, as well as the consequences for our understanding of (the importance of) the modified gravity/dark matter distinction and the broader spacetime–matter distinction.

本文通过修改引力与暗物质之间的争论的角度，仔细研究了空间（时间）与物质之间严格的概念区分的持久性。特别是，我们以Berezhiani和Khoury的新颖“超流体暗物质理论”（SFDM）为案例研究。从文献中分别提取了关于物质和时空的两个标准。根据这些标准对SFDM假定的新标量场进行的评估表明，它是尽可能多（暗）的物质，但在超流的临界温度以下，时空（任何事物的改变）可能是。续篇论文根据这一结果研究了SFDM的可能解释，