Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Herodotus, E.J. Lowe and Keith Devlin

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2 ideas

5. Theory of Logic / L. Paradox / 4. Paradoxes in Logic / a. Achilles paradox
Space and time are atomic in the arrow, and divisible in the tortoise [Devlin]
     Full Idea: The arrow paradox starts with the assumption that space and time are atomic; the tortoise starts with the opposite assumption that space and time are infinitely divisible.
     From: Keith Devlin (Goodbye Descartes [1997], Ch. 2)
     A reaction: Aquinas similarly covers all options (the cosmos has a beginning, or no beginning). The nature of movement in a space which involves quantum leaps remains metaphysically puzzling. Where is a particle at half of the Planck time?
An infinite series of tasks can't be completed because it has no last member [Lowe]
     Full Idea: It appears to be impossible to complete an infinite series of tasks, since such a series has, by definition, no last member.
     From: E.J. Lowe (A Survey of Metaphysics [2002], p.290)
     A reaction: This pinpoints the problem. So are there infinite tasks in a paradox of subdivision like the Achilles?