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Understanding Infinity in Mathematics

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23 views2 pages

Understanding Infinity in Mathematics

Uploaded by

sanjidah.ahmed00
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

In mathematics, infinity comes from a Latin word which means ‘without end’.

It is defined as an
unmeasurable and abstract concept (it is not a real number!) of something that is endless: it has
no bound, no limit, and no endpoint. It is famously denoted by the mathematical symbol called
the leminscate ‘∞’, which was first applied in mathematics by the English mathematician John
Wallis in 1655. One example of infinity can be seen in the sequence of the natural numbers
which never ends and is infinite. Infinity can also be described as the idea of ‘larger than any
natural number’ or even smaller than any number. In another way, infinity itself can convey the
concept that there is no largest number.

1.1 The Origin of infinity

The nature of infinity first came to light in Greek culture, but it was not exactly a mathematical
one, in fact it first originated as a philosophical subject from the works of the Ancient Greek
philosopher Aristotle who had formulated the question ‘What exactly is actual infinity?’1, that
subsequently had led to many discussions among many other philosophers. There were two
key stages in the development of infinity. First, through the discovery of Bernard Bolzano, who
was a Bohemian Priest that was also interested in mathematics as well as philosophy. He had
introduced the existence of actual infinity in mathematics, soon published as his most renowned
book, that he had wrote in the year of his death, ‘Paradoxes of the Infinite’ explaining about the
theory of infinite sets and the strange paradoxes associated with infinity, such as how infinity
feels as though it should be a number, yet it does not act like one. Second, through the
appearance of Georg Cantor, who made it possible to incorporate infinity as a mathematical
object, which led to having an impact on almost every branch of mathematics.2 To the Greeks,
the approach of infinity had come to them from the physical world by three traditional
observations: (I) Time seems without end (II) Space and time can be unendingly subdivided (III)
Space is without bound.3 In order to continue, some Greek originations are needed for a true
understanding of the coming of infinity. Infinity had meant a lot of different things in Greek
culture such as a noun, adjective, and adverb. For philosophical reasons, the word infinity was
majority used as adjectives and nouns, whereas in mathematics, it was commonly used as an
adverb (where it could only exist) which had been used to quantify actions such as to add, to
subdivide, to continue on for almost ever.

1.2 Bolzano’s discoveries

When measuring actual infinity try to compare two infinity sets, you have to choose from two
principles, which are mutually exclusive:

1. The ‘part-whole’ principle: The whole is greater than its parts.

1 K. Trlifajova, Bolzano’s Infinite Quantities, (2017), p.2


2 H. Eves, ‘An Introduction to the History of
Mathematics’, (1990)
3 [Link]
2. The ‘one-to-one correspondence’ principle: Two sets of numbers have the same size
only if there is a one-to-one correspondence between them. 4

The foundation of Bolzano’s theorem of infinity was built on the first principle and insisted on
the whole being greater than its part whereas Gregor Cantor based his theory on the second
principle. Bernard Bolzano was a bohemian philosopher and physician but had soon left
metaphysics behind, and placed himself in the mathematical world. Bolzano’s journey of infinity
created a possibility of welcoming the concept of infinity as a mathematical object which was
illustrated in his book ‘The paradoxes of Infinity’. These paradoxes that he had found present in
his time had inspired him to investigate infinity closer and write about it. Due to this, Bolzano
had come to the conclusion that these paradoxes were in fact created by the absence of an
operational domain for infinity and so he had tried to create a new theory in order to solve this.
This led to the set theory of infinity, which Bolzano had considered sets to be: ‘as an
embodiment of the idea or concept which we conceive when we regard the arrangement of its
parts as a matter of indifference’.5

He had remarked: "the set of all absolute truths is an infinite set’.6

Bolzano had defended the concept of an infinite set and his work gave rise to the existence of a
set which had transformed infinity into an object within an operational domain and with this new
interpretation it was possible for infinity to be integrated into mathematics.

4 K. Trlifajova, Bolzano’s Infinite Quantities, (2017), p.2


5 [Link]

6 B. Bolzano, ‘The paradoxes of infinity’ (1851) p.90

Common questions

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The historical understanding of infinity began as a philosophical discussion in Greek culture. The Greeks perceived infinity through observations such as the endlessness of time and the boundlessness of space . Aristotle's philosophical inquiries, like 'What exactly is actual infinity?', prompted early discussions. However, it was not until Bernard Bolzano, a Bohemian mathematician and philosopher, formalized the theory of infinite sets in his work 'Paradoxes of the Infinite', that infinity entered the realm of mathematics . Bolzano introduced the concept of infinite sets and identified paradoxes arising from misuse, leading to set theory concepts that allowed infinity to be treated as a mathematical object . This laid the groundwork for Georg Cantor's later developments, which fully integrated infinity into mathematics .

Bernard Bolzano encountered paradoxes that arose from the lack of an operational domain for infinity. These paradoxes revolved around conceptual misunderstandings, such as the idea that infinity should act like a number even though it does not . The paradoxes involved conflicting principles, like the 'part-whole' principle being challenged by infinite sets where the whole and parts can appear equal . Bolzano's recognition of these paradoxes led him to propose a set theory foundation that regarded sets as delineations where the arrangement of parts was indifferent, transforming how infinity was perceived and used in mathematics .

The philosophical understanding of infinity in ancient Greece, rooted in observations of the endlessness in nature and time, treated infinity as more of an abstract concept without formal mathematical properties . Greek philosophers like Aristotle debated its existence and relevance, focusing on its conceptual implications rather than treating it as a mathematical object. In contrast, Bolzano and Cantor redefined infinity's role in mathematics by developing theories that treated infinity as a quantifiable and operational aspect of mathematical sets. Bolzano's paradoxes and Cantor's one-to-one correspondence principle enabled the treatment of infinity in mathematical terms, shifting it from a purely philosophical idea to a foundational element of mathematical analysis and theory .

Bernard Bolzano and Georg Cantor had different foundational approaches to infinity. Bolzano based his foundation on the 'part-whole' principle, which states that the whole is greater than its parts . He explored the paradoxes of infinity and sought to create operational domains for it, leading to a set theory approach where infinity could be integrated into mathematics . In contrast, Georg Cantor used the 'one-to-one correspondence' principle, where two sets are the same size if paired in a one-to-one relationship . Cantor's work made infinity a mathematical object impacting different branches of mathematics and resolved many issues seen in Bolzano's time .

Bolzano's concept of infinity as a mathematical object impacted subsequent mathematical theories by transforming the understanding and application of infinity within mathematics. By framing infinity within set theory and proposing that infinite sets can represent concepts like absolute truths or sizes that transcend natural numbers, Bolzano facilitated the integration of infinity into formal mathematics . This theoretical foundation influenced future mathematicians, most notably Georg Cantor, who expanded on Bolzano’s ideas to formally define transfinite numbers and operations involving infinite sets, thus broadening the scope of mathematical analysis and set theory .

Aristotle's question 'What exactly is actual infinity?' was significant because it sparked ongoing philosophical discourse on the nature of infinity . This question prompted debates on whether infinity could exist in the physical world or was merely a conceptual abstraction. It influenced many subsequent philosophers and set the stage for exploring infinity as a limitless or boundless entity, contributing foundationally to how infinity was perceived in Greek philosophy . This philosophical grounding later influenced mathematical explorations of infinity initiated by figures like Bolzano and Cantor .

John Wallis contributed to the mathematical understanding of infinity by introducing and solidifying the use of the symbol '∞' to denote infinity in mathematics in 1655 . His contribution is significant because it provided a standardized notation for infinity, facilitating its discussion and analysis as a mathematical concept rather than merely a philosophical one. This symbolic representation allowed for the broader exploration and integration of infinity into mathematical formulas and theories, paving the way for future developments in mathematical analysis and set theory .

Greek observations of the physical world influenced their concept of infinity by recognizing three traditional aspects: time's endlessness, the unending divisibility of space and time, and the boundless nature of space . These observations led to the idea that infinity could be perceived in natural phenomena, prompting Greeks to consider infinity not just abstractly but as an attribute of reality . This perception laid the groundwork for philosophical inquiry into infinity's nature, shaping how infinity was discussed and conceptualized in Western thought .

Greek language and vocabulary played a role in the philosophical exploration of infinity by providing multiple linguistic forms for discussing the concept. Infinity was expressed using nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, each adding nuanced understanding to philosophical discussions . As an adjective and noun, infinity helped describe abstract ideas of endlessness and boundlessness, while its use as an adverb related to actions like addition or division extending indefinitely . This linguistic versatility allowed Greek philosophers to explore infinity's multifaceted nature, contributing to more profound philosophical debates and inquiries into its essence .

The principles used by Bolzano and Cantor to understand infinity are considered mutually exclusive because they offer different foundational views on comparing sizes of infinite sets. Bolzano's 'part-whole' principle asserts that a whole is always greater than its parts, which contradicts the behaviors observed in infinite sets where subsets can equate to their supersets . Conversely, Cantor's 'one-to-one correspondence' principle posits that two sets are the same size if their elements can be paired one-to-one, which contrasts with Bolzano’s principle by allowing parts and wholes to be equally sized, thus making the principles logically incompatible .

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