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Full Idea
It appears to be impossible to complete an infinite series of tasks, since such a series has, by definition, no last member.
Gist of Idea
An infinite series of tasks can't be completed because it has no last member
Source
E.J. Lowe (A Survey of Metaphysics [2002], p.290)
Book Ref
Lowe,E.J.: 'A Survey of Metaphysics' [OUP 2002], p.290
A Reaction
This pinpoints the problem. So are there infinite tasks in a paradox of subdivision like the Achilles?
| 5109 | The fast runner must always reach the point from which the slower runner started [Zeno of Elea, by Aristotle] |
| 1507 | We don't have time for infinite quantity, but we do for infinite divisibility, because time is also divisible [Aristotle on Zeno of Elea] |
| 21585 | The tortoise won't win, because infinite instants don't compose an infinitely long time [Russell] |
| 7557 | To solve Zeno's paradox, reject the axiom that the whole has more terms than the parts [Russell] |
| 14149 | The Achilles Paradox concerns the one-one correlation of infinite classes [Russell] |
| 21690 | Whenever the pursuer reaches the spot where the pursuer has been, the pursued has moved on [Quine] |
| 8075 | Space and time are atomic in the arrow, and divisible in the tortoise [Devlin] |
| 4229 | An infinite series of tasks can't be completed because it has no last member [Lowe] |
| 20457 | Zeno assumes collecting an infinity of things makes an infinite thing [Rovelli] |