Can anyone clearly explain to me the concept of infinity?

Question

I cannot conceive of something that has no beginning or end, like the universe.

Answer 1

This one worked for me back in high school. But only after I slept on it.

The number 9.9 is close to 10. The number 9.9999 is closer to 10, but still not exactly equal to 10. If you wrote a number 9.9999... with an INFINITE number of 9s, then that number would be EXACTLY equal to 10.

Answer 2

I hate it when I have to think before noon.
You have a number of questions of duality here - infinity vs. finite; nothingness vs. somethingness; beginnings vs. endings; comprehensible vs. incomprehensible.

If you are a Democrat try listening to George Bush for two hours. If you are a Republican try listening to Al Gore for two hours. Religious or not, try going to church where someone preaches for about two hours without air conditioning or musical accompaniment. Any of the above will give you some grasp of the the idea of forever.

Once you have forever firmly in mind it is a short jump to the concept of infinity.

A concept, by the way, is not a single idea but a mental abbreviation of a number of ideas. You must read, argue with friends, consider, catalog, study and ponder and ask your God, before you find a real concept of infinity.

Beginning from nothing is harder to grasp, if possible. People say they cannot conceive of something without a beginning. On the other hand they have no problem dealing with a material universe which is expanding into nothing! The only way I can relate to the idea of never beginning and never ending is to consider the never ending circle.

By the way, the universe had a beginning. It must therefore have an end. The concept that is hard to deal with is a God without beginning and without end.

The argument that the universe is infinite because there is no loss, just transformation, begs the issue. It is nice to know that I still have my daddy. He is eternal. I know this because his ashes are in the sundial out in the back yard!

The longer I live the more I understand; that the things which are visible, only represent those things which cannot be seen.

Answer 3

Infinity is really a theory, because while we can describe how infinity must work and use inifinity, we cannot actually test or demonstrate that it exists.

Consider an infinite number of people tossing a coin an infinite number of times. Because there is an infinite number of tossers, there is a guarantee that one will toss heads 100,000,000 times, because there is a nonzero chance of it happening. However, here's the kicker, no one will toss heads every time, because they have 0% chance of doing it. Any help?

The universe does not demonstrate infinity in a way that we can precieve. We can measure, however inaccurately the age of the universe, so it is a finite thing. The absence of the universe or anything to view time, would demonstrate infinity, however (endless void).

Will the universe end or go on forever...well, this isn't exactly clear. We aren't exactly sure what will happen after everything is super cooled and energy become exceedingly scarce. Do we pass beyond the theoretical limit of minimum temperature? What happens then? We don't know.

Answer 4

Infinity is a progression. If I add 1 to 1 it will be 2. (But why is it possible for me to give a answer like 3?). Then I add 1 to 2 and I get 3. I keep adding 1 to all the numbers that I get after adding one to the previous numbers. I will never be able to get to the end of the progression.

The Universe is infinite. It is infinite as you are not able to see an end of the Universe. You keep seeing further and further and there is not an end of it in sight. Of course it may be the telescope. But maybe not. Who knows?

And conceiveing it is not really difficult. I hope this helps you to conceive it.

Answer 5

First you have to try to grasp the meanng of NOTHING.Try not to think, and to be concious of not thinking.Practice doing this. Infinity is something that takes time to understand, to grasp.Numbers have no end, and really no begining because before 0 there is -1, -2. -3, etcetera.Circles have no bigining and no end.Try to imagine a spiral, a spiral that had no beginning and never ends.

Answer 6

that is an extremely strong question. i have been investigating the mystical for a even as and characteristic little question that there is something previous this existence. once you're able to have an sensible verbal change with someone who has surpassed by potential of digital Voice Phenomenon and then ensure that is them by potential of voice prognosis, that to me is information of the information (soul) finally placing apart from the body. the theory of heaven and hell became easily integrated into contemporary Christianity from Zoroastrianism. maximum Christians do no longer understand this and those reading this are easily putting their index fingers of their ears acceptable this second and shouting " l. a. l. a. l. a. i did not purely study that!". God is a theory that has been round on the grounds that guy has been round and is extremely misunderstood. common procedures to describe God is by employing calling God "LOVE". so a procedures as advent and evolution, there must be no confusion. Evolution is a truth.

Answer 7

Time - A philosphy developed by Mankind to measure the span of day(s) and his own life.

A century - Normally more than one man's own life span, concieved by the fact that numerous changes have occured in the time span and numerous things have occured.

A millenium - 1,000 yrs. A span of time witnessed by few nations, shows the achievements of many mens life span's, ability to go through this time is by many working together and leadership.

Era - Billions of years. Years witnessed by no man, just records of carbon dating (Carbon decays 1/2 ever so thousand years, ability to test this and determine when things died or were formed)

Infinity - From the first Era when the Eons were created/made til many Era later when people think back to us as being the first of man-kind and can carbon date us to billions of years ago. No matter when you plug in the "now" infinity is always "tommorrow"

Answer 8

It's indeed a difficult concept to grasp. The only thing more difficult to understand is a universe that has a beginning out of nothing. This is logically impossible. Nothing doesn't create something out of nothing.

Answer 9

Try this article: "Contemplating Infinity: A Philosophical Perspective" located at the site listed below.

Answer 10

It's something I think about all the time too....I'm glad to see you do too. Where does it all lead? Another universe? Planets we don't know of? Heaven? I don't get it. How can it never ever end??? It's mind boggling.