Why is it difficult for the human mind to percieve infinite distances?

Answer 1

Einstein's theory of relativity in part proves this one easily.

Everything to answer this question depends on human points of perspective. Humans are the only finite quantity in the question.

The farther away from immediate objects a human will get, the more infinitity becomes apparent to the human.

Its also a falacious question because distance is relative to the observer and infinite in the space-time fabric.

Theoretically there is no beginning and no end. Therefore, distance is infinite whether it is measured as a nonometer or a light year. Each measure is but a segment of infinity measured by the human observer.

I would argue that the measuring stick is an arbitrary way of measuring only a segment of infinity.

But distance is infinite.

Answer 2

"Our two minds .... One is an act of the emotional
mind, the other of the rational mind. In a very real
sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that
feels" (Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence,
Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 1996, page 8). This
rational mind is also called the faculty of logic and
reason.

The emotional mind connected with religion.
It can apprehend what is infinite - the Almighty.
The rational mind seeks proofs for every thing
in terms of logic and reason. However, logic has
its own limitation:

In the 1930s, Austrian mathematician Godel proved a
theorem which became the "Godel theorem" in cognition
theory. It states that any formalized 'logical' system
in principle cannot be complete in itself. It means
that a statement can always be found that can be
neither disproved nor proved using the means of that
particular system. To discuss about such a statement,
one must go beyond that very logic system; otherwise
nothing but a vicious circle will result. Psychologist
say that any experience is contingent - it's opposite
is logically possible and hence should not be treated
as contradictory.

Answer 3

Because humans only make up a tiny amount of something. We are so used to being the center of our own universes, that we cant possibly comprehend the vastness of the real universe. Its out there-right now!-surrounding us all. When we look at the night sky, we see maybe 1,000 stars on a good night in the countryside. What we cant comprehend is the fact that for every one of those stars, there is probably at least 1 planet, and you can only see a small section of the sky from where you are on Earth. People in another hemisphere see a totally different sky than the one youre seeing, with a 1,000 more stars!

Thats why I think its ridiculous when people say "Theres no such things as aliens"...of course there are! Maybe not humans or little green men, but of course there is life somewhere else out there. Maybe not life as we know it, with oxygen and a sky and revolving planets...but then again, we cant comprehend all this, can we? We're only human.

Its crazy!

Answer 4

Infinite distance is an oxymoron. Any distance -- big or small -- can be measured. If it can be measured, it is not infinite. If it is infinite, it is not a distance, as it cannot be measured. However, it IS hard for the human mind to conceive/imagine anything too far beyond the range of human experience. For instance, can you imagine an ex-wife who does not want her ex-husband's money? That is so far beyond the range of human experience that there isn't a law in the US that allows a woman to say that she doesn't want her ex-husband's money. She can only state HOW MUCH she wants.

Answer 5

Our minds are finite. Our imagination can be infinite. But infinite distances are very difficult to grasp.

Answer 6

In order to perceive something, it must be done through whatever 5 (or 6) senses you have that work. Say it's your eyes: in order for the human mind to perceive infinite distances, it would be through his/her eyes. But how do eyes work? They need light to hit them. And to perceive something, that light needs to be reflected back from the perceived object. (Exception would be if ESP is real and doesn't require something to be reflected back.)

Since there is no object obstructing an infinite distance (otherwise, it wouldn't be infinite, would it?), there's no light to reflect back to your eyes. Without light, you can't perceive (with your eyes; same reasoning for other senses). Q.E.D.

Answer 7

I think our brains can't entirely process it. Infinity is forever. That's easy enough. But something that goes on forever? No way, things stop--at least, that's what we think. Things end all the time for us. Between stop signs and lives, there's always an end. It's hard to process something that never stops.

Answer 8

Because some people insist that seeing is beliveing

Answer 9

Because as far as we've experienced, everything ends either somewhere or some time.