Ways of Infinity

The paper discusses analogies between the way in which infinity is understood and dealt with in mathematics and in Jewish tradition. It begins with recalling the classical debate about infinity in the field of the foundations of mathematics. Reading an important paper by A. Robinson, we come to the...

Полное описание

Библиографические подробности
Главный автор: Salanskis Jean-Michel
Формат: Статья
Язык:English
Опубликовано: Sciendo 2016-03-01
Серии:Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric
Online-ссылка:https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0010
Описание
Итог:The paper discusses analogies between the way in which infinity is understood and dealt with in mathematics and in Jewish tradition. It begins with recalling the classical debate about infinity in the field of the foundations of mathematics. Reading an important paper by A. Robinson, we come to the conclusion that mathematicians work “as if” infinite totalities existed. They do so by following the rules of their formalized discourse which, at least if it refers to anything at all, also refers to such totalities. The paper describes how, according to Jewish tradition, infinity is also not theological: instead of thinking that they own some infinite being or relate to it, observant Jews follow Jewish law.
ISSN:0860-150X
2199-6059