The Significance of infinity

[Morgana]

Humanity feels the need to create something within its own minds that they can barely comprehend, just so that they feel they have a great mystery, and therefore feel as though they have something to strive for.





The concept of infinity: That time has no beginning and no end. Yet science has continuously proved that anything that exists has a beginning and an end. Such as God. Now, I'm not thrashing...but do people expect me to believe that we should kill people because an invisible boogeyman in the sky says so? Please.

Time: we can measure it, therefore, it can be defined. Time is not limitless, but the concept of time, because of the concept of infinity, has made us believe that time will progress as eternally as the existence of matter, which , comparatively to the age of the universe, isn't very long. But, as always, Christian theorists and anglo-saxon protestants, and catholics, too, state that I am a heretic.



Am I wrong?





Therefore, I say that the concept of infinity and a limitless world and time are absolutely essential to humanity at large..but are in fact non-existent.

[MidgarFanatic]

Well… as interesting as they are, such philosophical concepts are a little out of my element, but I will do my best to tell you what I think…

Concepts such as time and infinity I find are just a few of those funny little things which mathematicians and physicists enjoy debating over and giving definitions to, even though they have yet to be fully understood and conquered (kind of like gravity). Although they are all aware that they exist, they do not fully understand what they mean, or why they mean anything at all. But the universe does not need us to understand how they work in order for us to continue to live our lives. In this respect, I feel much the same way about the existence of an omniscient deity.

If humanity had nothing to strive for then there would be no reason to live. Whether we create something in our own minds that does not exist or that we cannot fully comprehend to fill this void or not, I believe that this idea takes a more personal approach. Even non-sentient animals have instincts and values which urge them to become more than they are. This is the mystery of life I think that makes a lot of things work in our universe… although it does not work perfectly all the time, heh.

I am an athiest, and so I adhere to my own values for living the best life that I can; therefore, I suppose I would be one of these “heretics” myself that you mention, but my own personal beliefs tell me that I should be proud of this, so I embrace it. So no Morgana, I do not believe you are wrong. I believe you bring up an interesting perspective on the nature of the relationship between the human experience within the Cosmos, and I have a feeling that you yourself embrace this idea.

And… on a more personal note Morgana… it’s nice to see a return of an old member to the forum. May this be the first post of many. Cheers friend.

[Morgana]

@midgarfanatic

I post every now and again, and I thank you for your opinion, it is MUCH appreciated. when I left last time, it was because of a complete and utter de-basement of intelligence...so the fact that some have come to the boards able to hold an intelligent conversation lasting mroe than five words is indeed a refreshing sight.

[NeoFighter5]

why is it that all here are, to one extent or another, non believers?. . .yes, of course religion seems unreal. . .of course there is no proof. . .of course that'll let you to believe it futile and pointless. . .but then again, your suppose to have faith. . .haha. . .to everyone its own. . .

. . .time is an idea. . .just as liberty and freedom. . .a concept. . .and so is infinity. . .and even religion. . .but people keep asking: what is the meaning of life?. . .and so they try to answer by coming up these concepts. . .i agree that all beginings have an end. . .its nature. . .infinity can't be. . .infinite. . .that is in itself impossible. . .after all we know ends, something will remain, but to say infinity is a real concept is to say that what we know will last for ever. . .stars, planets, and all that. . .and i find time hard to believe. . .we named it simply because we need to keep track of things. . .but i think that to call it time is too simple for something too complicated. . .

*sigh*. . .im not a very bright, so i think that sounds too confusing. . .

[Miss Lockheart]

I have my own way of looking at infinity, which I suppose is down to the infant beliefs that I have started to take into my life. I've studied lots of cultures now, and I'm putting the pieces together, I even still contradict myself sometimes, but here goes....

It's true, that all things have a beginning and an end, we can't escape that. But lately my interest has turned to what becomes of a person or object inbetween the ending and beginning phase, rather than the usual beginning and end, if that makes sense. Everything moves in a cycle. We live and we die, but then in some way shape or form we come to live again. Same with most biological organisms- plants have seeds to assure a new plant when the old one dies, just like passing down genetics. Even if we don't believe in reincarnation on a spiritual level, we are born again in a base sense, be that through the soil we are buried in, or perservation through genetics meaning somewhere down the line a part of us will be born in a different person. When planets die, there always has to be another planet born to take it's place.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that looking at one cycle of birth and death would make us feel that nothing is forever, everything has to disappear in the end. But looking at things on a bigger scale, there is never a time when nothing is being born or nothing is dying. That's what infinity represents to me. I guess even non-religious people can relate to that, or I hope they can

I guess humans always have a very personal perspective on these things. Yes we do like to think that our small lives have some meaning, and cram in as much as we can before that life is taken away from us. But I find it very awe-inducing when I stop my struggles just for a minute and consider the bigger picture. Not only are we achieving our own goals in this life, we are also assuring that the cycle goes on, through our children or any other legacy we leave behind. In that way we really can feel infinite. So many influential people in our lives have been dead for decades, centuries, yet their work keeps them alive in other people's hearts. As MF mentioned, scientists are always trying to discover what makes the world work, yet how many of them consider that they will be famous long after their death? Ironic really, their work is much more considered long after it's ceased.

Sorry, I went slightly off- tangent there, been a while since I've actually considered a serious subject! But that's what infinity means to me, and it is more significant than the common man will admit

[Zotar]

Where's Termie? She Should be here...

[Morgana]

Somebody get my sister over here! Est, you're needed!

[NeoFighter5]

@ML:. . .ah yes, the genes stay in the pool through our sons and daughters. . .little consolation on a more personal level, i must say. . .i think the Higher One would be quite amuzed by such ideas. . .talking of which, i wonder why He doesnt have brothers and sisters. . .

[Miss Lockheart]

Couldn't help but wonder that myself Neo ^^ I don't remember hearing anything about brothers or sisters in Sunday School. So God, if he exists, is an only child O_O

It's true, humans personally like to believe in their own immortality, so perhaps thinking about their descendants doesn't give them much immediate comfort. So on that level I think the only infinite thing is change, it's the only constant. That includes our own death- it's just a change really. It sounds very insensitive, when we have this fear of life just ending, and there being nothing more to come afterwards (of course we can't know for sure until it happens, which is even scarier), but that is what it is.

But as little as it is, it is some comfort. A big part of myself will carry on to exist through my son, since he grew inside me and took a lot from that, physically and spiritually. He has my blood, my DNA, even some of my cellular memory if you believe that exists. Plus whilst we're still alive and growing together I can hopefully leave him a lot of good lessons

[MidgarFanatic]

Originally Posted by NeoFighter5

. . .talking of which, i wonder why He doesnt have brothers and sisters. . .

Well I personally don't see it this way, but I have had many religious friends who believe that we are all the manifestation of His brothers and sisters... and not simply his children which we hear so much of from preachers and others who spread the word. If He did have a brother or sister though, it would certainly lead to some interesting sibling rivalry.

But like I said, this is not how I see things, but if such things give you comfort then I say go for it.

Originally Posted by MissLockheart

Plus whilst we're still alive and growing together I can hopefully leave him a lot of good lessons.

That would be a wonderful thing indeed.