Cecil Moore wrote:

...
Maybe "absence of anything even resembling a structure"
would be a better way to put it. It's pretty clear that
if there is no structure for space, then space cannot
exist. Absolute nothing would necessarily be the absence
of any and every *thing* including space.

Well, yeah, that would pretty much be my call. Its' just a bit to
"swallow." And, add to that the fact, we have never seen "nothing", but
then probably never will ... LOL

I have been attempting to locate my exact old school physics text(s),
have had no luck. But, if I remember correctly, my books only mentioned
Einsteins first claim, that the structure/ether of space does not exist.
Indeed, if I am remembering correctly, they lumped structure/ether
together with alchemists, charlatans, magic, witches, etc. ...

Somewhere, later in college, I am suspecting, Einstein, this time
reneging on that claim, was quoted again, this time allowing for the
structure/ether:

Ether and the Theory of Relativity
Albert Einstein, an address delivered on May 5th, 1920, in the
University of Leyden.

" ...
More careful reflection teaches us, however, that the special theory of
relativity does not compel us to deny ether. We may assume the existence
of an ether,; only we must give up ascribing a definite state of motion
to it, i.e. we must by abstraction take from it the last mechanical
characteristic which Lorentz had still left it. We shall see later that
this point of view, the conceivability of which shall at once endeavour
to make more intelligible by a somewhat halting comparison, is justified
by the results of the general theory of relativity.
.... "

His implication in the words, " ... we must by abstraction take from it
the last mechanical characteristic ... ", implies the ether will,
almost, be as difficult to "view" as "nothing." 8-)

LET ME POINT OUT, Einstein was NOT too intimidated to use that ugly
word, "ether." ;-) This is supposed to be the exact text, translated,
from his presentation. If someone knows of another which differs,
please let me know ...

Regards,
JS