Infinity

Infinity

By Michael Albalah

We crave reason, yet behave unreasonably. Social systems, infrastructure, and institutions are reasoned into existence using logic, yet our most fundamental system, our number system, is smoldered with logical inconsistencies.

Let's explore infinity.

Number line:

|0-----1-----2-----3-----4-----5-----6-----7-----8-----9|

On that number line I can clearly see nine sections broken up from amongst the whole line. I could also identify forty five little sections, or three larger ones. Depending on your scale of reference you could divide that segment an infinite amount of ways.

What I am saying is that on a finite number line, there are an infinite number of segments. That defies logic. Yet it's true.

So, how could it be that in a defined set there are an infinite number of possible segments? Intuition tells us that in a finite distance, there are only a finite amount of parts. Intuition also tells us if there are an infinite number of parts the set should extend ad infinidum.

Ok, so let's talk about infinity.

Take infinity {aka ‘∞’} and the any other number, let's say 30. While both are part and parcel of this thing called math, the latter is a number and the former isn’t. Infinity is a concept, an abstract one at that, to describe something that is without any limit. Bertrand Russell described some of the paradoxes caused by infinity as “immeasurably subtle and profound.” He acknowledged that infinity exists seperately from our normal intuitions and deductions in math. He was awe inspired.

Absurdity is reality. It’s engrained in the very framework of all systems. Game shows, movies, novels, have all recognized this, phenomenon and often present the antagonist with a twist that could not have been anticipated and cannot be explained. Through life you will have experiences that do not seem to make sense. To be successful you must acknowledge that compromises of logic are made at times, and this is necessary and fundamental, not a sacrifice or an error in judgement. Some might be weighed down by peculiarities of this type, I find them entertaining.