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Single Idea 18090

[catalogued under 6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 5. The Infinite / a. The Infinite]

Full Idea

If there is, unqualifiedly, no infinite, it is clear that many impossible things result. For there will be a beginnning and an end of time, and magnitudes will not be divisible into magnitudes, and number will not be infinite.

Gist of Idea

Without infinity time has limits, magnitudes are indivisible, and numbers come to an end

Source

Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE], 206b09), quoted by David Bostock - Philosophy of Mathematics 1.8

Book Reference

Bostock,David: 'Philosophy of Mathematics: An Introduction' [Wiley-Blackwell 2009], p.24


A Reaction

This is a commitment to infinite time, and uncountable real numbers, and infinite ordinals. Dedekind cuts are implied. Nice.