The origin of the idea in the Western tradition can be traced to the 5th century BCE starting with the Ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus and his teacher Leucippus, who theorized matter’s divisibility beyond what can be perceived by the senses until ultimately ending at an indivisible atom.
Did Aristotle believe in infinity?
Aristotle postulated that an actual infinity was impossible , because if it were possible, then something would have attained infinite magnitude, and would be “bigger than the heavens.” However, he said, mathematics relating to infinity was not deprived of its applicability by this impossibility, because mathematicians ...
Can you divide something infinitely?
Infinite divisibility is not the same as the possibility of dividing something into infinitely many parts. ... Mathematically, there are infinitely many positive integers, but each one of them individually is finite. The whole point about an infinite process is that it can never be completed.
Is infinity a metaphysical concept?
Infinity in Physical Science. From a metaphysical perspective, the theories of mathematical physics seem to be ontologically committed to objects and their properties. If any of those objects or properties are infinite, then physics is committed to there being infinity within the physical world .
Can any matter be divided endlessly?
Moreover, it was known that matter can be divided into mixtures and substances, with substances being either compounds or elements (see Figure 6). Compounds can be separated into their constituent elements, but elements cannot be further subdivided . ... All matter consists of small, indivisible particles (atoms).
Can humans understand infinity?
For many of us, it’s easy to understand the concept of infinity , but we can’t comprehend how “big” or “never-ending” it is, because our perception of time always has a beginning and an end — minutes, days, years, lifespans.
Why can’t infinity exist?
In the context of a number system, in which “infinity” would mean something one can treat like a number. In this context, infinity does not exist . ... So there does not exist any one single “infinity” concept; instead, there exists a whole collection of things called “infinite cardinal numbers”.
What is 5 divided infinity?
In general, any number divided by 0 equals to infinity. Let us take 1 divided by 0. Now, let us divide 5 by infinity. Therefore, 5 divided by infinity equal to zero .
Is infinitely small possible?
According to the Standard Model of particle physics, the particles that make up an atom—quarks and electrons—are point particles: they do not take up space. ... Physical space is often regarded as infinitely divisible : it is thought that any region in space, no matter how small, could be further split.
Is one infinitely more than zero?
Relatively, or percentagewise, yes: 1 is infinitely bigger than zero . This is equivalent to saying 2 is two times bigger than 1. It takes infinite groups of zero added up to equal 1.
What is the center of infinity?
Zero is the center of an number line reaching to infinity in the positive and negative directions (as well as the center of the infinite complex plane). It fits right in with all the other points, but it is still structurally unique.
Is a paradox true?
A paradox is a logically self-contradictory statement or a statement that runs contrary to one’s expectation. It is a statement that, despite apparently valid reasoning from true premises, leads to a seemingly self-contradictory or a logically unacceptable conclusion.
What is the meaning of infinity symbol?
The infinity symbol, a figure eight on its side, variously signifies the concept of limitlessness or eternity , especially as used notationally in mathematics and metaphorically with respect to love.
What’s the smallest thing in existence?
Quarks are among the smallest particles in the universe, and they carry only fractional electric charges. Scientists have a good idea of how quarks make up hadrons, but the properties of individual quarks have been difficult to tease out because they can’t be observed outside of their respective hadrons.
Can you continually divide matter?
You can continually divide matter into smaller and smaller pieces without ever coming to an end . The plum pudding model proposed that negatively charged electrons were held in a sphere of positive charge. All of the positive charge of an atom is concentrated in the nucleus.
Who proposed that matter was not continuous?
In 400 BC, Democritus (Figure below) proposed an alternate view, referred to as the discontinuous theory of matter. He expanded upon the work of Leucippus, a mentor of his, who believed matter was actually finite and not limitless.
