Single Idea 22929

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / c. Potential infinite]

Full Idea

For Aristotle infinity is not so much a property of some set of objects - the numbers - as of the process of counting, namely of its not having a natural limit. This is 'potential' infinite

Gist of Idea

Aristotle's infinity is a property of the counting process, that it has no natural limit

Source

report of Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE]) by Robin Le Poidevin - Travels in Four Dimensions 06 'Illusion'

Book Reference

Le Poidevin,Robin: 'Travels in Four Dimensions' [OUP 2003], p.96


A Reaction

I increasingly favour this view. Mathematicians have foisted fictional objects on us, such as real infinities, limits and zero, because it makes their job easier, but it makes discussion of the natural world very obscure.