Single Idea 11025

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / d. Actual infinite]

Full Idea

Every potential infinity seems to suggest an actual infinity - e.g. generating successors suggests they are really all there already; cutting the line suggests that the point where the cut is made is already in place.

Gist of Idea

Infinite cuts and successors seems to suggest an actual infinity there waiting for us

Source

Stephen Read (Thinking About Logic [1995], Ch.8)

Book Reference

Read,Stephen: 'Thinking About Logic' [OUP 1995], p.236


A Reaction

Finding a new gambit in chess suggests it was there waiting for us, but we obviously invented chess. Daft.