If the universe is infinite, are there an infinite number of sentient beings?

Answer 1

Yes of course.

Depends on how you define "infinite".

There is probably some theory in Metaphysical philosophy where they define different kinds of "infinities" and they compare them !

But in general, yes there are "infinite" number of sentient beings if the Universe is infinite.

Answer 2

Answers to such profound questions as whether we are the only sentient beings in the universe, whether life is the product of random accident or deeply rooted law, and whether there may be some sort of ultimate meaning to our existence, hinge on what science can reveal about the formation of life.
Paul Davies, The Fifth Miracle.

First of all we need to decide - what is life? And then – is all life forms are capable of conscious perception of the world – sentient beings? The best answers so far for the first question come only from our scientific study and categorization of the thing in the known universe.

If we understand that the existence is all that is in the universe or all the universes that there in existence – the entirety. Nothing in the world is limited or finite, it is just the way we see things. All things have distinct character because all things contain other things are their characteristics making them unique in character – the essence in the same. I can for example conceive an idea of a chair, assuming that any chair has never been constructed before. The ideas is in my head as a notion but it also has it own material form as it is stored in the cells of my brain that are physical. Now the question is - at what state an idea becomes a concrete reality? The boundaries between things can only be define characteristically, and this definition we formulate through our common observation and more precisely though science.

Then if the universe were a sum total of finite things then we could have concluded that the universe in itself is finite. In a true sense of reality we cannot count beyond number one. All numbers except one are arbitrary and contain all previous numbers including one as their characteristics. And there is lies the fallacy of find the greatest number by count from one to two and so on. The greatest number is one – the singularity of existence. The universe is infinite. We conceive the concept of finite only because we thing in arbitrary terms. But we still conceive the unproven ideal of an infinite universe because that is how it is.

Now if the universe, or the existence is decidedly infinite then the number of all things in the universe is infinite – uncountable. Now lets assume consciousness is the fundamental characteristic of life. Then consciousness is not the independent entity, detached from all that already exists. A consciousness of the infinite will therefore be infinite in itself. If consciousness is infinite then there cannot be two or more types of consciousness in existence, only one. There can be countless sentient beings in existence but then their consciousness will not be divided. It will be like singular collective universal consciousness permeating throughout the existence as one supreme concept of life.

Answer 3

It depends. If the universe contains an infinite number of planets, and if one out of every million (or billion or name any number) of those planets is the home to one or more sentient beings, then yes - there would be an infiinite number of sentient beings.

But if the universe consists of a single planet with one sentient being surrounded by an infinite amount of empty space, then no - there would not be an infinite number of sentient beings.

As far as we can tell so far, our universe has a very large but finite number of stars, and thus a finite number of planets, and thus a finite number of sentient beings (assuming sentient beings need bodies which need planets to live on).

On the other hand, if you believe that angels are sentient beings, and if you believe that an infinite number of angels could dance on the head of a pin, then you could have an infinite number of sentient beings even in a finite universe, even in a universe smaller than a breadbox. But that would be silly.

Answer 4

No. The universe is infinite, but there are only a finite number of planets that have sentient beings, therefore there could not be.

According to Douglas Adams, the population of the universe is 0. An infinite amount of planets, but only a finite amount with life. Infinity diveided by any number is 0

Answer 5

Perhaps the Universe only seems infinite! Again what is the differece between being infinite and being eternal?

Numbers for example are infinite but they are not eternal. this then begs the question what is the universe as opposed to the total sum of existance and then as string Theorist argue there may very well be several dimentions to existance making the notion of the universe minute.

Last but not least there is a Buddhist saying that your mind is so vast that the entire Universe cannot fill one corner of it!

Answer 6

From a scientifc and human perspective it may seem correct to say that the Universe is Infinite. However, this is not really the case though it is difficult to prove it I think that the Universe is finite.

Reasons: Infinity as a concept does not exsit at the moment. For those who are believers in life after death like me; we do think that its only in heaven and hell that humanity will get to understand the concept of infinity in its real sense.
So basically it it doesnt exsist now.

Answer 7

The universe itself is Sentient. The indwelling consciousness of God is infinite,

Answer 8

Unless necessary beings are logically impossible (of course they're not), or it's logically impossible, say, that there could be more than 45 sentient beings ore more than 3 trillion sentient beings (of course not), then the answers is going to be yes for any sense of "inifinite" i can think of.

Answer 9

Sentience has yet to be proven, except in my case.
I've proved that myself.

However time is ultimately non-existent and fully existent, therefore all that was will forever be.The end is sealed in the beginning as the beginning is sealed in the end. (Zohar Torah)

Short, Non-Cosmic Muffin answer:
There is ultimately only one sentient being, who seems to be
diffracted into a multitude of manifestations. Of which you are just one. I'm another one, send me a check in the mail.

Via con Dios, mi amigo. Our stardust is the same.

Answer 10

If one hasn't been proven, how can an infinite number exist?