TITLE:
Mathematical Platonism and the Nature of Infinity
AUTHORS:
Gilbert B. Côté
KEYWORDS:
Mathematical Platonism; Infinity; Zeno; Torricelli; Abstractness; Quantum Physics; Dichotomy; Trumpet; Paradox
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
30,
2013
ABSTRACT: An analysis of the counter-intuitive properties of infinity as understood differently in mathematics, classical physics and quantum physics allows the consideration of various paradoxes under a new light (e.g. Zeno’s dichotomy, Torricelli’s trumpet, and the weirdness of quantum physics). It provides strong support for the reality of abstractness and mathematical Platonism, and a plausible reason why there is something rather than nothing in the concrete universe. The conclusions are far reaching for science and philosophy.