more from John Heil

Single Idea 18519

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 5. Infinite in Nature]

Full Idea

In a universe containing an infinite number of electrons would mass-energy be conserved? ...Electrons could come and go without affecting the total mass-energy.

Gist of Idea

If there were infinite electrons, they could vanish without affecting total mass-energy

Source

John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 03.6)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.45


A Reaction

This seems to be a very persuasive reason for doubting that the universe contains an infinite number of electrons. In fact I suspect that infinite numbers have no bearing on nature at all. (Actually, I suspect them of being fictions).

Related Idea

Idea 18518 Infinite numbers are qualitatively different - they are not just very large numbers [Heil]