I think the way scientists use the concept of dark matter to explain things that we cannot indeed observe the mechanics of(like gravity, the expansion of the Universe) is akin to Aristotle's notion of aether:

We call the substance of the heaven and stars “aether,” not as some do, because it burns (aithesthai), being fire-like, although they are wrong about this ability, which is confused for fire’s, but because it is always moving (aei thein), being carried in a circular motion, being an element different than the four, unmixed and divine. (Aristotle, On the Cosmos)