does "infinity" exist in reality?

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Profile MeltWreckage
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Message 720901 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 17:28:49 UTC

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?



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Message 720911 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 17:36:20 UTC

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.

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Message 720915 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 17:46:26 UTC - in response to Message 720911.  
Last modified: 2 Mar 2008, 17:52:20 UTC

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.
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Message 720980 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 20:52:09 UTC - in response to Message 720911.  

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!
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Message 720988 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 20:56:53 UTC


. . . suggestion: ask M.C. Escher . . . ;))

> ps - 'ello Melt . . .


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Message 721018 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 21:46:09 UTC - in response to Message 720901.  

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.
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Message 721055 - Posted: 2 Mar 2008, 22:28:49 UTC - in response to Message 721018.  

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.


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.


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Message 721528 - Posted: 3 Mar 2008, 16:57:32 UTC - in response to Message 720915.  

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.


Thanks. Thats probably the best definition I've heard.

I don't know if there's a connection with pizza, though. :)
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Message 721772 - Posted: 4 Mar 2008, 3:00:53 UTC - in response to Message 721055.  
Last modified: 4 Mar 2008, 3:01:40 UTC

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.


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.







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!
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Message 721786 - Posted: 4 Mar 2008, 3:46:34 UTC

I have found Infinity, it is known as my email inbox after not looking for two days.


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Message 721924 - Posted: 4 Mar 2008, 12:11:22 UTC - in response to Message 721786.  

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!


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Message 721927 - Posted: 4 Mar 2008, 12:17:14 UTC


. . . 'ello Melt and here's hopin' all is Well with You too

< ps - good un Paul ;)))


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Message 721950 - Posted: 4 Mar 2008, 13:54:30 UTC

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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Message boards : Cafe SETI : does "infinity" exist in reality?


 
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