Suppose that Shandy had always existed. Thank you George, your reply made me smile. Infinite set. : An issue that arises when one contemplates the universe at large is whether space and time are infinite or finite. The idea is that if a closed system has only a finite number of possible states then it must eventually return to a state that is has been in before. Veritably cavalier. A Complicated Question. Win win. The universe cannot have existed for ever, otherwise it would have reached its equilibrium end state an infinite time ago. [4], A full exposition of Philoponus' several arguments, as reported by Simplicius, can be found in Sorabji.[5]. If a version of the Tristram Shandy story is internally inconsistent, for instance, then the infinitist could just assert that an infinite past is possible, but that particular Tristram Shandy is not because it's not internally consistent. http:/www.ncsu.edu/~smpuryea/papers/FinitismBeginningUniverse.pdf FINITISM AND THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE -- Preprint, "Before the big bang: something or nothing", "From the Tristram Shandy Paradox to the Christmas Shandy Paradox", "Finitism and the Beginning of the Universe", "Methuselah's Diary and the Finitude of the Past", The Singular Universe and the Reality of Time, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Temporal_finitism&oldid=1009966226, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. So in a sense, time can be both infinite and finite. However, if we do that and remain fully engaged with our one iron in the fire, then there is the chance that we will miss an opportunity, should one arise. [2], Immanuel Kant's argument for temporal finitism, at least in one direction, from his First Antinomy, runs as follows:[7][8]. Time will be the same. So, dots are used to describe the infinity of the set. Examples of finite set: 1. Whether time is infinite or not depends on whether there are minds to fathom such an elegant creation. But in 2012, Alexander Vilenkin and Audrey Mithani of Tufts University wrote a paper claiming that in any such scenario past time could not have been infinite. If that means nothing to you, then you might like to read my previous post. If ... it is urged that we cannot conceive of a process of surveying which does not have a beginning, then we must inquire with what relevance and by what right the notion of surveying is introduced into the discussion at all. The isfinite macro and the _finite and _finitef functions return a non-zero value if x is either a normal or subnormal finite value. I love the homegrown quote. Anyhoo, that's not my focus this morning. Come rain or shine, some things never change. If the number of elements in a set is zero or finite, then the set is called a finite set. How did you find the length of this one ? Graham Oppy[23] embroiled in debate with Oderberg, points out that the Tristram Shandy story has been used in many versions. The problem is that time is finite. Philoponus' refutation of Aristotle extended to six books, the first five addressing De Caelo and the sixth addressing Physics, and from comments on Philoponus made by Simplicius can be deduced to have been quite lengthy. But since Aristotle holds that such treatments of infinity are impossible and ridiculous, the world cannot have existed for infinite time. I've just realised that 'Is Time Infinite Or Finite' looks like the email title that gets sent through from Quora. If the number of elements in a set is zero or finite, then the set is called a finite set. I am feeling a touch d'Artagnan (Otherwise known as Charles de Batz de Castelmore) this morning. In contrast to ancient Greek philosophers who believed that the universe had an infinite past with no beginning, medieval philosophers and theologians developed the concept of the universe having a finite past with a beginning. Let R = {whole numbers between 5 and 45} In fact for any day in the past, if the man would have finished his countdown by day n, he would have finished his countdown by n-1. Smith then says that Craig uses false presuppositions when he makes statements about infinite collections (in particular the ones relating to Hilbert's Hotel and infinite sets being equivalent to proper subsets of them), often based on Craig finding things "unbelievable", when they are actually mathematically correct. Therefore, the finite player will always find themselves in quagmire. Now the infinity of a series consists in the fact that it can never be completed through successive synthesis. The second skirts around this; the analogous idea in mathematics, that the (infinite) sequence of negative integers "..-3, -2, -1" may be extended by appending zero, then one, and so forth; is perfectly valid. This means that, at present, we know that the universe i… You and I simply cannot conceive of time and space being infinite, but we also cannot conceive of them being finite. 'Is our universe inside a snow globe ?' Who am I kidding, it will be the same old babble that barely holds itself together. Tha last sentence was from wiki. We could ask why he did not finish counting yesterday or the day before, since eternity would have been over by then. Finite and infinite sets are two of the different types of sets. It follows that the man could not have finished his countdown at any point in the finite past, since he would have already been done. 3. If we assume that the world has no beginning in time, then up to every given moment an eternity has elapsed, and there has passed away in that world an infinite series of successive states of things. The actual infinite is not a process in time; it is an infinity that exists wholly at one time. I lost my 'flow' on this one, as I started it yesterday and finished it today, which is never the best method. He argues that if one makes the assumption that any mathematically coherent model is metaphysically possible, then it can be shown that an infinite temporal chain is metaphysically possible, since one can show that there exist mathematically coherent models of an infinite progression of times. In fact, unless inflation went on for a truly infinite amount of time, or the Universe was born infinitely large, the Universe ought to be finite in extent. Still too long or acceptable ? Let's look at each case. An issue that arises when one contemplates the universe at large is whether space and time are infinite or finite. Finite definition, having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable. Whether time is infinite or not depends on whether there are minds to fathom such an elegant creation. It depends on your personal definition. For example, if we had a universe whose internal energy is great enough to cause it slowly collapse in on itself due to gravity, then we may say time in this universe if finite, inevitably falling victim to … Modern mathematics generally incorporates infinity. The initial answer to whether the universe is infinite or finite is a resounding… we don’t know. That is right. It being the physical beginning is objective and depends on the observer coming from outside the cosmos. He also points out that the Tristram Shandy paradox is mathematically coherent, but some of Craig's conclusions about when the biography would be finished are incorrect. An infinite universe (unbounded metric space) means that there are points arbitrarily far apart: for any distance d , there are points that are of a distance at least d apart. Let's get straight to the point. It is impossible for a sequence formed by successive addition to be actually infinite. Properties of an Infinite Set. Good day to all you Wealthy Affiliateers. So there will be a 'whoosh' with my words and maybe even some countenance to my calligraphy, not usually present. Since there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of past days and the number of past years on an infinite past, one could reason that Shandy could write his entire autobiography. For it to be useful to the temporal finitism side, a version must be found that is logically consistent and not compatible with an infinite universe. I have no beef with that philosophy. I leave you with those thoughts to ponder and a 'homegrown' quote that best describes life in general. When you really need to find some time, you usually do. What we know with certainty is that the Big Bang occurred 13.8 billion years ago, meaning that is the age of the universe. deadline from Google's perspective under their consistency gambit but a deadline it was , is and will be no doubt, nevertheless! Maimonides himself held that neither creation nor Aristotle's infinite time were provable, or at least that no proof was available. First, the observable universe is the one we have size estimates for, because I repeat, we don’t even know if the entire universe is infinite or finite… That’s a lot of time, but the universe is big enough that scientists are pretty sure that there’s space outside our observable bubble, and that the universe just isn’t old enough yet for that light to have reached us. (Would 'doctrine' be over doing it ?). Infinite time is limitless, inexhaustible, and thus cannot have been exhausted. Finite set. Time is finite. Is Technological Evolution Infinite or Finite? There always would be more time units to traverse before now. For most purposes it is simply used as convenient; when considered more carefully it is incorporated, or not, according to whether the axiom of infinity is included. I'm suggesting that C be worded as just infinite (non-cyclic) past time. Thank you as ever so kindly!! They developed two logical arguments against an infinite past, the first being the "argument from the impossibility of the existence of an actual infinite", which states:[6], This argument depends on the (unproved) assertion that an actual infinite cannot exist; and that an infinite past implies an infinite succession of "events", a word not clearly defined. This caused problems for mediaeval Islamic, Jewish, and Christian philosophers, who were unable to reconcile the Aristotelian conception of the eternal with the Genesis creation narrative.[1]. If nobody is there to witness the passing of time, then time does not exist and therefore cannot be deemed infinite. The answer to the biggest of all questions, of whether the Universe is finite or infinite, might be encoded in the Universe itself, but we can’t access enough of it to know. I will try my very best to curtail such happenings on this post. Haha. Others say its three dimensions including up-down, left-right, forward-back, and space-time. Modern cosmogony accepts finitism, in the form of the Big Bang, rather than Steady State theory which allows for a universe that has existed for an infinite amount of time, but on physical rather than philosophical grounds. 'Time' is fascinating, though it can end up making my head hurt when I think about it for to long. P.S. It thus follows that it is impossible for an infinite world-series to have passed away, and that a beginning of the world is therefore a necessary condition of the world's existence. 1. It makes me wonder, do we vary our writing style depending on who our audience is ? Therefore, an infinite past is not possible. The initial answer to whether the universe is infinite or finite is a resounding… we don’t know. If the number of elements is uncountable, then also it is called an infinite set. Find your niche, set your website up and fill it full of valuable content. Now we will discuss about the examples of finite sets and infinite sets. Unlike finite sets, we cannot represent an infinite set in roster form easily as its elements are not limited. I am mindful that I have a tendency to waffle on, my bad. I'm suggesting that C be worded as just infinite (non-cyclic) past time. Time may be infinite, but it ultimately depends on the type of universe and how its life will end. Cosmology - Cosmology - Finite or infinite? We can be careful and creative though. [2], Prior to Maimonides, it was held that it was possible to prove, philosophically, creation theory. The second scrawl reads as follows: 'Time is finite It becomes so when opportunities arise Everyday they are put on hold is a day lost' This actually makes much more sense than the first one, I was obviously getting used to writing on my knee by this stage. What we know with certainty is that the Big Bang occurred 13.8 billion years ago, meaning that is the age of the universe. An actual infinity has no immediate predecessor. Temporal finitism is the doctrine that time is finite in the past. It could however have been "before any nameable time", according to Leonard Susskind.[17]. In summary, if there is a beginning of time, and it is possible to reach the present from that time, then there is a finite length of time between that beginning and the present, but we can divide that finite length into an infinite number of infinitesimal chunks. The union of two infinite sets is always infinite. Some of Maimonides' Jewish successors, including Gersonides and Crescas, conversely held that the question was decidable, philosophically.[3]. The second argument, the "argument from the impossibility of completing an actual infinite by successive addition", states:[2]. Maybe you could find that small amount of time to stick another iron in the fire. The word “potential” is being used in a technical sense. The Tristram Shandy story leads to contradiction. He was followed by many others including St. Bonaventure. That is right. 2. I'm also not saying that you should 'down tools' and throw yourself, headlong into the next venture that is put in front of you. This actually makes much more sense than the first one, I was obviously getting used to writing on my knee by this stage. That means that light has had “only” 13.8 billion years to travel. The Kalam cosmological argument held that creation was provable, for example. This is the mathematical concept of infinity; while this may provide useful analogies or ways of thinking about the physical world, it says nothing directly about the physical world. Puryear points out that Aristotle and Aquinas had an opposing view to point 2, but that the most contentious is point 3. Infinite things having happened doesn't imply infinite time. This page was last edited on 3 March 2021, at 04:33. This view was inspired by the creation myth shared by the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. You're very welcome Jen. David Hilbert thought that the role of the actual infinite was relegated only to the abstract realm of mathematics. This caused problems for mediaeval Islamic, Jewish, and Christian philosophers, who were unable to reconcile the Aristotelian conception of the eternal with the Genesis creation narrative. I know the majority of you will say that it's impossible and that you squeeze the life out of every last minute, although I'm sure that you could shave a few minutes here and there, if you really wanted to. If the number of elements is uncountable, then also it is called an infinite set. The first statement states, correctly, that a finite (number) cannot be made into an infinite one by the finite addition of more finite numbers. Finite player vs. Finite player: system is stable. The first, used in calculus, he called the variable finite, or potential infinite, represented by the I cannot control the speed of time, no one can, but I and everyone else can utilize it while we have it. "The infinite is nowhere to be found in reality. Half strength concentrate. Question 1 : Write the set {−1, 1} in set builder form. Puryear then goes on to argue that if Craig is willing to turn an infinity of points into a finite number of divisions, then points 1, 2 and 4 are not true. Let P = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30} Then, P is a finite set and n(P) = 6. To see this, note that the argument runs as follows: The problem for the finitist is that point 1 is not necessarily true. Allow yourself to become less focused on the time-line. However the universe is not a closed system with a finite number of states and the recurrence theorem does not apply to it. Infinite things having happened doesn't imply infinite time. That is actually the finite model not the infinite one. Woah it's too early for this kind of thinking! Imagine Tristram Shandy, an immortal man who writes his biography so slowly that for every day that he lives, it takes him a year to record that day. [13], Craig asks us to suppose that we met a man who claims to have been counting down from infinity and is now just finishing. The word ‘Finite’ itself describes that it is countable and the word ‘Infinite’ means it is not finite or uncountable. By contrast, Aristotle spoke of the potentially infinite as a never-ending process over time, but which is finite at any specific time. The argument is that if we spread ourselves to thinly, then the quality of our work will be a diluted. Some say its one dimesnsional. He also says that Craig might be making a cardinality error similar to assuming that because an infinitely extended temporal series would contain an infinite number of times, then it would have to contain the number "infinity". So we have to be careful. After many centuries of thought by some of the best minds, humanity has still not arrived at conclusive answers to these questions. If you view it … However, due to the inflation of the universe, as well as the apparently accelerating expansion of every observable corner of the universe, the most distant light we have been able to detect is from roughly 46 billion light-years in every direction. A universe that simply existed and had not been created, or a universe that was created as an infinite progression, for instance, would still be possible. A set is said to be an infinite set if the number of elements in the set is not finite. Bennett quotes Strawson: "A temporal process both completed and infinite in duration appears to be impossible only on the assumption that it has a beginning. Both possibilities have mind-bending implications. sign (known as the lemniscate), and the actual infinite, which Cantor called the "true infinite." There are infinite events (no end to space), so only finite time is necessary for infinite things to happen. Infinite set : A set is said to be an infinite set if the number of elements in the set is not finite. [12] From another perspective, Shandy would only get farther and farther behind, and given a past eternity, would be infinitely far behind. But is it? The most sophisticated medieval arguments against an infinite past were later developed by the early Muslim philosopher, Al-Kindi (Alkindus); the Jewish philosopher, Saadia Gaon (Saadia ben Joseph); and the Muslim theologian, Al-Ghazali (Algazel). (1) Put differently, one could never traverse an infinite sequence of time units, an infinite number of seconds, minutes, hours, etc., to arrive at now. What? So in a sense, time can be both infinite and finite. Remarks. They return 0 if the argument is infinite or a NaN. Actually, if you take a close look at both time and space, as we perceive them, there is a problem. If the universe did not have a beginning, then the past would consist in an infinite temporal sequence of events. One Parcel, Three Posts. If you have a goal, whether big or small, it … I am saying that maybe before dismissing whatever it is, out of hand, give it some consideration, smart consideration though. I understand that time is finite for many of us. The C++ inline template function isfinite behaves the same way, but returns true or false. No distraction to take you away from you main meal, so to speak. Doing the whole life/work (and love) balancing act can be precarious at the best of times. Whether time is finite, infinite, or cyclical is not a question that we have enough information within our observable Universe to answer. This, in effect, will allow us some sort of manipulation over the passing of time in our own individual lives. I move onto the second scrap of paper. Thank you Twack. Haha! Unless we … The universe will constantly be changing for eternity because the universe is expanding. {\displaystyle \infty } An article by Louis J. Swingrover makes a number of points relating to the idea that Craig's "absurdities" are not contradictions in themselves: they are all either mathematically consistent (like Hilbert's hotel or the man counting down to today), or do not lead to inescapable conclusions. Smith asserts that Craig and Wiltrow are making a cardinality error by confusing an unending sequence with a sequence whose members must be separated by an infinity: None of the integers is separated from any other integer by an infinite number of integers, so why assert that an infinite series of times must contain a time infinitely far back in the past. Fear not, this will not be a 'mealy' highfalutin post. Finite and infinite sets are two of the different types of sets. Two errors here. A weak glass of squash, no less. [14], In 1984 physicist Paul Davies deduced a finite-time origin of the universe in a quite different way, from physical grounds: "the universe will eventually die, wallowing, as it were, in its own entropy. For any finite number n, n+1 equals a finite number. Temporal finitism is the doctrine that time is finite in the past. Properties of an Infinite Set. "[9] Philosopher William Lane Craig argues that if the past were infinitely long, it would entail the existence of actual infinites in reality. I know that many of us feel that way about being here, wishing that we had found it years ago. Then you have "If I'd have started doing this six months ago, just imagine how far along I would now" You will never get that six months back. ∞ "[15], More recently though physicists have proposed various ideas for how the universe could have existed for an infinite time, such as eternal inflation. Oppy then lists the different versions of the Tristram Shandy story that have been put forward and shows that they are all either internally inconsistent or they don't lead to contradiction. Georg Cantor recognized two different kinds of infinity. Kant's argument for finitism has been widely discussed, for instance Jonathan Bennett[18] points out that Kant's argument is not a sound logical proof: His assertion that "Now the infinity of a series consists in the fact that it can never be completed through successive synthesis. Anyway, since time is another dimension like the X, Y, and Z coordinates you uusually think about, Time is a fourth dimension. [16] Let Q = {natural numbers less than 25} Then, Q is a finite set and n(P) = 24. That’s a lot of time, but the universe is big enough that scientists are pretty sure that there’s space outside our observable bubble, and that the universe just isn’t old enough yet for that light to have reached us. Puryear says that many philosophers have disagreed with point 3, and adds his own objection: Puryear then points that Craig has defended his position by saying that time might or must be naturally divided and so there is not an actual infinity of instants between two times. In fact, unless inflation went on for a truly infinite amount of time, or the Universe was born infinitely large, the Universe ought to be finite in extent. Finite player vs. Infinite player: this is where, according to Sinek, the problems arise. Still, the same person underneath though. If we take our work here at WA as an example, then for the most part, everyone would agree, that's definitely the best advice. The temporal sequence of past events was formed by successive addition. Once your thoughts relax in the infinite focus, being in physical reality may become a bit easier to maneuver within. The reason I'm throwing this in to the ring is because sometimes we miss an opening and from that point in time onward, we are losing valuable time and possibly money. Yes, time is infinite and space is finite. If nobody is there to witness the passing of time, then time does not exist and therefore cannot be deemed infinite. Contra Aristotlem has been lost, and is chiefly known through the citations used by Simplicius of Cilicia in his commentaries on Aristotle's Physics and De Caelo. That means that light has had “only” 13.8 billion years to travel. It thus follows that it is impossible for an infinite world-series to have passed away", assumes that the universe was created at a beginning and then progressed from there, which seems to assume the conclusion. What? Instead of becoming overwhelmed in a finite world, become an infinite thinker while accessing the feelings around it. ", Some of the criticism of William Lane Craig's argument for temporal finitism has been discussed and expanded on by Stephen Puryear.[19][20]. Thomas Aquinas was influenced by this belief, and held in his Summa Theologica that neither hypothesis was demonstrable. The energy on the other hand… is infinite. Quentin Smith[21] attacks "their supposition that an infinite series of past events must contain some events separated from the present event by an infinite number of intermediate events, and consequently that from one of these infinitely distant past events the present could never have been reached". Here, y ou will learn about finite and infinite sets, their definition, properties and other details of these two types of … So, based on that, you have to decide if the universe (the set of all X, Y and Z values) is finite or infinite. In Bars's theory, time isn't linear, but a 2D plane in curvature interwoven throughout these dimensions and more. Need a math tutor, need to sell your math book, or need to buy a new one? Time is infinite. John Philoponus was probably the first to use the argument that infinite time is impossible in order to establish temporal finitism. Ellery Eells[22] expands on this last point by showing that the Tristram Shandy paradox is internally consistent and fully compatible with an infinite universe. See more. In the same way that we might dress differently depending on where we're going. Philoponus' arguments for temporal finitism were severalfold. The role that remain for the infinite to play is solely that of an idea. So, dots are used to describe the infinity of the set. I like to think that I don't but the truth is that I probably do. If the universe is sufficiently flat that it will not crunch again then it is infinite. Mathematically, the question of whether the universe is infinite or finite is referred to as boundedness. / ... and there will come a time when space is not available. Infinite player vs. Infinite player: system is stable. Two possiblities exist: either the Universe is finite and has a size, or it's infinite and goes on forever. It just needs a little bit of time manipulation. To and observer from within the universe, all physical creatures, the … Infinite divisibility arises in different ways in philosophy, physics, economics, order theory (a branch of mathematics), and probability theory (also a branch of mathematics). The word ‘Finite’ itself describes that it is countable and the word ‘Infinite’ means it is not finite or uncountable. There is a belief, if you want to call it that, about focusing on one particular thing at a time. One player is playing to win and the other is playing to keep playing. The philosophy of Aristotle, expressed in such works as his Physics, held that although space was finite, with only void existing beyond the outermost sphere of the heavens, time was infinite. An infinite temporal sequence of past events would be actually and not merely potentially infinite. The union of two infinite sets is always infinite. (Mathematically, anyway. always gets my attention. If there is only a finite amount of matter and energy in the universe (although a massive and mind boggling amount) but time is infinite... does that present the possibility that all things are (in an even more massively mind boggling length of time) destined to repeat exactly over and over? which sheds some light on things. If you perceive time as the change in a thing, like a thing moving from spot A to spot B with the passage of time, then time is infinite. [10], Craig and Sinclair also argue that an actual infinite cannot be formed by successive addition. September 20th, 1963, John F. Kennedy stood before the United Nations, sharing the following: Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. Both arguments were adopted by later Christian philosophers and theologians, and the second argument in particular became more famous after it was adopted by Immanuel Kant in his thesis of the first antinomy concerning time. (According to scholars of his work, he didn't make a formal distinction between unprovability and the simple absence of proof.) Time is infinite because no matter what maximum limit you could set on the end of time, I could make it bigger by adding "1" to your limit, or "10", or "100", or "1000", etc. Thank you Carol, you are most welcome and thank you for stopping by. After many centuries of thought by some of the best minds, humanity has still not arrived at conclusive answers to these questions.