The Beginning of Infinity

The Beginning of Infinity PDF

Author: David Deutsch

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2011-03-31

Total Pages: 571

ISBN-13: 0141969695

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'Science has never had an advocate quite like David Deutsch ... A computational physicist on a par with his touchstones Alan Turing and Richard Feynman, and a philosopher in the line of his greatest hero, Karl Popper. His arguments are so clear that to read him is to experience the thrill of the highest level of discourse available on this planet and to understand it' Peter Forbes, Independent In our search for truth, how far have we advanced? This uniquely human quest for good explanations has driven amazing improvements in everything from scientific understanding and technology to politics, moral values and human welfare. But will progress end, either in catastrophe or completion - or will it continue infinitely? In this profound and seminal book, David Deutsch explores the furthest reaches of our current understanding, taking in the Infinity Hotel, supernovae and the nature of optimism, to instill in all of us a wonder at what we have achieved - and the fact that this is only the beginning of humanity's infinite possibility. 'This is Deutsch at his most ambitious, seeking to understand the implications of our scientific explanations of the world ... I enthusiastically recommend this rich, wide-ranging and elegantly written exposition of the unique insights of one of our most original intellectuals' Michael Berry, Times Higher Education Supplement 'Bold ... profound ... provocative and persuasive' Economist 'David Deutsch may well go down in history as one of the great scientists of our age' Scotsman

A Critique of Infinity

A Critique of Infinity PDF

Author: Luc Anckaert

Publisher: Peeters Publishers

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 9789042918160

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Levinas writes that Rosenzweig is too present in his work to be cited. This cryptic suggestion is unfolded into an in-depth confrontation. Both philosophers implement the same speculative gesture. Rosenzweig writes in post-Hegelian times; Levinas's thinking is enriched by phenomenology and marked by the Holocaust. Their critical exploration of the relationship to the infinite offers radically new perspectives on the language, the time and the other. The confrontation raises serious questions. How is a concept of alterity possible without accepting an identity? What are the concealed presuppositions? The questions lead to a critical analysis that cautiously explores the boundaries of dialogical thinking. But it is also the expression of the esteem held for the strong power of inspiration. As such, this book is both a critique and a tribute to Rosenzweig and Levinas. The book contains an exhaustive bibliography of the comparative studies. The manuscript was gold awarded by the Teylers Fellowship of Haarlem (the Netherlands).

David Hume's Critique of Infinity

David Hume's Critique of Infinity PDF

Author: Dale Jacquette

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 9789004116498

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This new study of David Hume s philosophy of mathematics critically examines his objections to the concept of infinity, and his alternative phenomenalist theory of space and time as constituted by minima sensibilia or sensible extensionless indivisibles.

Understanding the Infinite

Understanding the Infinite PDF

Author: Shaughan Lavine

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2009-06-30

Total Pages: 262

ISBN-13: 0674265335

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An accessible history and philosophical commentary on our notion of infinity. How can the infinite, a subject so remote from our finite experience, be an everyday tool for the working mathematician? Blending history, philosophy, mathematics, and logic, Shaughan Lavine answers this question with exceptional clarity. Making use of the mathematical work of Jan Mycielski, he demonstrates that knowledge of the infinite is possible, even according to strict standards that require some intuitive basis for knowledge. Praise for Understanding the Infinite “Understanding the Infinite is a remarkable blend of mathematics, modern history, philosophy, and logic, laced with refreshing doses of common sense. It is a potted history of, and a philosophical commentary on, the modern notion of infinity as formalized in axiomatic set theory . . . An amazingly readable [book] given the difficult subject matter. Most of all, it is an eminently sensible book. Anyone who wants to explore the deep issues surrounding the concept of infinity . . . will get a great deal of pleasure from it.” —Ian Stewart, New Scientist “How, in a finite world, does one obtain any knowledge about the infinite? Lavine argues that intuitions about the infinite derive from facts about the finite mathematics of indefinitely large size . . . The issues are delicate, but the writing is crisp and exciting, the arguments original. This book should interest readers whether philosophically, historically, or mathematically inclined, and large parts are within the grasp of the general reader. Highly recommended.” —D. V. Feldman, Choice

Infinity and Perspective

Infinity and Perspective PDF

Author: Karsten Harries

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 9780262582186

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A philosophical exploration of the origin and limits of the modern world.

The Mathematics of Infinity

The Mathematics of Infinity PDF

Author: Theodore G. Faticoni

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2012-04-17

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 1118204484

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Praise for the First Edition ". . . an enchanting book for those people in computer science or mathematics who are fascinated by the concept of infinity."—Computing Reviews ". . . a very well written introduction to set theory . . . easy to read and well suited for self-study . . . highly recommended."—Choice The concept of infinity has fascinated and confused mankind for centuries with theories and ideas that cause even seasoned mathematicians to wonder. The Mathematics of Infinity: A Guide to Great Ideas, Second Edition uniquely explores how we can manipulate these ideas when our common sense rebels at the conclusions we are drawing. Continuing to draw from his extensive work on the subject, the author provides a user-friendly presentation that avoids unnecessary, in-depth mathematical rigor. This Second Edition provides important coverage of logic and sets, elements and predicates, cardinals as ordinals, and mathematical physics. Classic arguments and illustrative examples are provided throughout the book and are accompanied by a gradual progression of sophisticated notions designed to stun readers' intuitive view of the world. With an accessible and balanced treatment of both concepts and theory, the book focuses on the following topics: Logic, sets, and functions Prime numbers Counting infinite sets Well ordered sets Infinite cardinals Logic and meta-mathematics Inductions and numbers Presenting an intriguing account of the notions of infinity, The Mathematics of Infinity: A Guide to Great Ideas, Second Edition is an insightful supplement for mathematics courses on set theory at the undergraduate level. The book also serves as a fascinating reference for mathematically inclined individuals who are interested in learning about the world of counterintuitive mathematics.

Levinas' 'Totality and Infinity'

Levinas' 'Totality and Infinity' PDF

Author: William Large

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2015-07-30

Total Pages: 162

ISBN-13: 1472531884

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Emmanuel Levinas' Totality and Infinity is a monumental work of phenomenological enquiry that goes on to assert the centrality of ethics to philosophical thought. This Reader's Guide provides a detailed explanation of the work, breaking down the occasionally intimidating but always inspirational content of Totality and Infinity for non-specialist readers, unpacking the complexities of Levinas' thought with clarity and rigour. Ideal for students coming to Levinas for the first time, the book offers essential guidance, outlining key themes, approaches to reading the text, the reception, and influence of the work, and recommends secondary reading materials.

Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity

Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity PDF

Author: Graham Oppy

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2006-04-03

Total Pages: 285

ISBN-13: 1139455117

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This book is an exploration of philosophical questions about infinity. Graham Oppy examines how the infinite lurks everywhere, both in science and in our ordinary thoughts about the world. He also analyses the many puzzles and paradoxes that follow in the train of the infinite. Even simple notions, such as counting, adding and maximising present serious difficulties. Other topics examined include the nature of space and time, infinities in physical science, infinities in theories of probability and decision, the nature of part/whole relations, mathematical theories of the infinite, and infinite regression and principles of sufficient reason.

Levinas's Existential Analytic

Levinas's Existential Analytic PDF

Author: James R. Mensch

Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Published: 2015-01-30

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 0810130548

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By virtue of the originality and depth of its thought, Emmanuel Levinas’s masterpiece, Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority, is destined to endure as one of the great works of philosophy. It is an essential text for understanding Levinas’s discussion of “the Other,” yet it is known as a “difficult” book. Modeled after Norman Kemp Smith’s commentary on Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, Levinas’s Existential Analytic guides both new and experienced readers through Levinas’s text. James R. Mensch explicates Levinas’s arguments and shows their historical referents, particularly with regard to Heidegger, Husserl, and Derrida. Students using this book alongside Totality and Infinity will be able to follow its arguments and grasp the subtle phenomenological analyses that fill it.

Infinity and the Mind

Infinity and the Mind PDF

Author: Rudy Rucker

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2019-07-23

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 0691191255

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A dynamic exploration of infinity In Infinity and the Mind, Rudy Rucker leads an excursion to that stretch of the universe he calls the “Mindscape,” where he explores infinity in all its forms: potential and actual, mathematical and physical, theological and mundane. Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations to enliven his text, Rucker acquaints us with staggeringly advanced levels of infinity, delves into the depths beneath daily awareness, and explains Kurt Gödel’s belief in the possibility of robot consciousness. In the realm of infinity, mathematics, science, and logic merge with the fantastic. By closely examining the paradoxes that arise, we gain profound insights into the human mind, its powers, and its limitations. This Princeton Science Library edition includes a new preface by the author.