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does "infinity" exist in reality?
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MeltWreckage Send message Joined: 16 Mar 07 Posts: 293 Credit: 15,951 RAC: 0 |
I was eating a pizza today, and I began daydreaming... Has infinity ever been "located" or identified, in a practical sense? Or is it simply a philosophical/mathematical concept? that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me |
Mr. Majestic Send message Joined: 26 Nov 07 Posts: 4752 Credit: 258,845 RAC: 0 |
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ECT Send message Joined: 16 Jun 07 Posts: 329 Credit: 614,787 RAC: 0 |
There is no way to find infinity. Infinity is simply an abstract concept meaning that there is no end to something. We could never be sure if we had found infinity because we would never know if we had reached the end or if there was more beyond that point. Very well said, I think it could also mean to give a comparison to something, such as the universe may be "infinity" in size, even though we think we know what it is. |
AndyW Send message Joined: 23 Oct 02 Posts: 5862 Credit: 10,957,677 RAC: 18 |
There is no way to find infinity. Infinity is simply an abstract concept meaning that there is no end to something. We could never be sure if we had found infinity because we would never know if we had reached the end or if there was more beyond that point. Great definition. Is there an end? We'll never know! |
Dr. C.E.T.I. Send message Joined: 29 Feb 00 Posts: 16019 Credit: 794,685 RAC: 0 |
. . . suggestion: ask M.C. Escher . . . ;)) > ps - 'ello Melt . . . BOINC Wiki . . . Science Status Page . . . |
1mp0£173 Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 8423 Credit: 356,897 RAC: 0 |
I was eating a pizza today, and I began daydreaming... Has infinity ever been "located" or identified, in a practical sense? Or is it simply a philosophical/mathematical concept? For all values of N, look just past N+1. |
James Martin Send message Joined: 27 Jun 06 Posts: 223 Credit: 62,205 RAC: 0 |
I was eating a pizza today, and I began daydreaming... Has infinity ever been "located" or identified, in a practical sense? Or is it simply a philosophical/mathematical concept? You make me want to have a pizza right now. lol Well, I guess going beyond a point we might think is the "end" could actually not be the true end.... dont just think about distance eg. the universe.... what about biology... going beyond the sub molecular, sub atomic etc or whichever comes first LOL... you can maybe keep going, even though it might not be possible for us today to go beyond. Infinity does exist. -- Just it is too much to comprehend so the best way is to just not think about it. Infinity in size, it is safe to say, even with extremely groundbreaking technology, wayyy ahead of a possible warp drive... with the universe being so big... it is obvious some planets or maybe species... will never ever come close to coming into contact because they are so far away... (note, I did not say "opposite" ends of the universe.... with something of infinite size, there is no opposite ends. think about it. |
GuitarGuru831 Send message Joined: 10 Dec 07 Posts: 48 Credit: 5,749 RAC: 0 |
There is no way to find infinity. Infinity is simply an abstract concept meaning that there is no end to something. We could never be sure if we had found infinity because we would never know if we had reached the end or if there was more beyond that point. Thanks. Thats probably the best definition I've heard. I don't know if there's a connection with pizza, though. :) |
MeltWreckage Send message Joined: 16 Mar 07 Posts: 293 Credit: 15,951 RAC: 0 |
I was eating a pizza today, and I began daydreaming... Has infinity ever been "located" or identified, in a practical sense? Or is it simply a philosophical/mathematical concept? I really enjoyed reading your post, James. I appreciate the idea of an infinite Universe, and (in a lot of ways) I find the concept rather comforting - as opposed to limited space. Thank you for the responses, everybody! Great stuff! p.s. hello Dr. C.E.T.I. !! good to see ya! that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me |
Pawly Send message Joined: 13 Jan 07 Posts: 2694 Credit: 1,049,945 RAC: 0 |
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MeltWreckage Send message Joined: 16 Mar 07 Posts: 293 Credit: 15,951 RAC: 0 |
I have found Infinity, it is known as my email inbox after not looking for two days. hahaha Hey Pawly! in my case, I've been receiving, on average, about five phone calls from telephone marketers DAILY, for the past month. Normally, I don't receive more than five calls a week! Feels like an infinite supply of pressure! hehe ... I don't normally answer my phone anyway, but this is insane. Not exactly the type of "contact" for which I've been hoping! that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me |
Dr. C.E.T.I. Send message Joined: 29 Feb 00 Posts: 16019 Credit: 794,685 RAC: 0 |
. . . 'ello Melt and here's hopin' all is Well with You too < ps - good un Paul ;))) BOINC Wiki . . . Science Status Page . . . |
KWSN - Sir William The Flagrantly Verbose Send message Joined: 28 Apr 00 Posts: 829 Credit: 11,757,678 RAC: 0 |
Caution: The views expressed are not necessarily those of the author, and are submitted merely to be thought provoking... Let's have a go at Solipsism: Infinity cannot exist... Time began when I was born, time ends when I die... The world around me is based in and modeled upon my perceptions and its extent is only as far as I can perceive... Solipsism is like cotton candy, it's a tasty diversion, but in the end it's just fluff and air and is soon melted away, leaving only a memory of sweetness and a lot of cavities! ;-) "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Orwell |
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