As a distillation of the comments and simplification of the previous answer, the flux of EM energy decreases according to inverse square law due to the dimensionality of the Universe and the "Law" of Conservation of Energy which stems from the physical theory of Symmetry.

Units for Energy = $J$
Units for Fluence = $\frac{J}{cm^2}$
Units for Area = $cm^2$

Fluence is defined as Energy divided by Area: $$F = E \div A \rightarrow f\left(\frac{E}{r^2}\right) \rightarrow \text{Units: } \frac{J}{cm^2} = J \div cm^2$$

Similarly: $$E = F \times A \rightarrow \text{Units: } J = \frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm^2$$

Meaning the EM Fluence passing through any unit area of the sphere decreases as the inverse square of the radius. Assuming the total energy remains constant (assume the Law of Conservation of Energy is true), this is the origin of the inverse square law.

If you "break" this by changing the equation to inversely proportional, not only does the total amount of energy increase as the EM radiation expands, the units also do not work out. It "breaks" the Universe.

$$E = F \times r \rightarrow \text{Units: } J \not = \frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm = \frac{J}{cm}$$

If the intensity of light followed a $\frac{1}{r}$ ratio, then the total amount of energy in the wave would increase by $E \times r$. This means the entire 3D universe would be cooked as total energy increased linearly as it propagated further and further from the source.

The only way to avoid increasing energy would be if the Universe were 2D rather than 3D.

If you want to use this relationship as part of your Universe, then you must either move to a 2 dimensional Universe or abandon the Conservation of Energy.

As a distillation of the comments and simplification of the previous answer, the flux of EM energy decreases according to inverse square law due to the dimensionality of the Universe and the "Law" of Conservation of Energy which stems from the physical theory of Symmetry.

Units for Energy = $J\;_,$

Units for Fluence = $\mathrm{\dfrac{J}{cm^2}}\;_,$

Units for Area = $\mathrm{cm}^2\;_.$

Fluence is defined as Energy divided by Area: $$F = \frac{E}{A} \rightarrow f\left(\frac{E}{r^2}\right) \rightarrow \text{Units: } \mathrm{\frac{J}{cm^2}} = \mathrm{J \div cm^2}$$

Similarly: $$E = F \times A \rightarrow \text{Units: } J = \mathrm{\frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm^2}$$

Meaning the EM Fluence passing through any unit area of the sphere decreases as the inverse square of the radius. Assuming the total energy remains constant (assume the Law of Conservation of Energy is true), this is the origin of the inverse square law.

If you "break" this by changing the equation to inversely proportional, not only does the total amount of energy increase as the EM radiation expands, the units also do not work out. It "breaks" the Universe.

$$E = F \times r \rightarrow \text{Units: } J \not = \mathrm{\frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm = \frac{J}{cm}}$$

If the intensity of light followed a $\frac{1}{r}$ ratio, then the total amount of energy in the wave would increase by $E \times r$. This means the entire 3D universe would be cooked as total energy increased linearly as it propagated further and further from the source.

The only way to avoid increasing energy would be if the Universe were 2D rather than 3D.

If you want to use this relationship as part of your Universe, then you must either move to a 2 dimensional Universe or abandon the Conservation of Energy.

As a distillation of the comments and simplification of the previous answer, the flux of EM energy decreases according to inverse square law due to the dimensionality of the Universe and the "Law" of Conservation of Energy which stems from the physical theory of Symmetry.

Units for Energy = $J$
Units for Fluence = $\frac{J}{cm^2}$
Units for Area = $cm^2$

Fluence is defined as Energy divided by Area: $$F = E \div A \rightarrow f\left(\frac{E}{r^2}\right) \rightarrow \text{Units: } \frac{J}{cm^2} = J \div cm^2$$

Similarly: $$E = F \times A \rightarrow \text{Units: } J = \frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm^2$$

Meaning the EM Fluence passing through any unit area of the sphere decreases as the inverse square of the radius. Assuming the total energy remains constant (assume the Law of Conservation of Energy is true), this is the origin of the inverse square law.

If you "break" this by changing the equation to inversely proportional, not only does the total amount of energy increase as the EM radiation expands, the units also do not work out. It "breaks" the Universe.

$$E = F \times r \rightarrow \text{Units: } J \not = \frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm = \frac{J}{cm}$$

If the intensity of light followed a $\frac{1}{r}$ ratio, then the total amount of energy in the wave would increase by $E \times r$. This means the entire 3D universe would be cooked as energy propagated further and further from the source.

The only way to avoid increasing energy would be if the Universe were 2D rather than 3D. The Conservation laws ultimate stem from Symmetry which is a fundamental theory of how the Universe works.

If you want to use this relationship as part of your Universe, then you must either move to a 2 dimensional Universe or abandon the Conservation of Energy.

As a distillation of the comments and simplification of the previous answer, the flux of EM energy decreases according to inverse square law due to the dimensionality of the Universe and the "Law" of Conservation of Energy which stems from the physical theory of Symmetry.

Units for Energy = $J$
Units for Fluence = $\frac{J}{cm^2}$
Units for Area = $cm^2$

Fluence is defined as Energy divided by Area: $$F = E \div A \rightarrow f\left(\frac{E}{r^2}\right) \rightarrow \text{Units: } \frac{J}{cm^2} = J \div cm^2$$

Similarly: $$E = F \times A \rightarrow \text{Units: } J = \frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm^2$$

Meaning the EM Fluence passing through any unit area of the sphere decreases as the inverse square of the radius. Assuming the total energy remains constant (assume the Law of Conservation of Energy is true), this is the origin of the inverse square law.

If you "break" this by changing the equation to inversely proportional, not only does the total amount of energy increase as the EM radiation expands, the units also do not work out. It "breaks" the Universe.

$$E = F \times r \rightarrow \text{Units: } J \not = \frac{J}{cm^2} \times cm = \frac{J}{cm}$$

If the intensity of light followed a $\frac{1}{r}$ ratio, then the total amount of energy in the wave would increase by $E \times r$. This means the entire 3D universe would be cooked as total energy increased linearly as it propagated further and further from the source.

The only way to avoid increasing energy would be if the Universe were 2D rather than 3D.

If you want to use this relationship as part of your Universe, then you must either move to a 2 dimensional Universe or abandon the Conservation of Energy.