Overview

This historical study of the infinite covers all its aspects from the mathematical to the mystical. Anyone who has ever pondered the limitlessness of space and time, or the endlessness of numbers, or the perfection of God will recognise the special fascination of the subject. Beginning with an entertaining account of the main paradoxes of the infinite, including those of Zeno, A.W. Moore traces the history of the topic from Aristotle to Kant, Hegel, Cantor, and Wittgenstein. Recent technical work is examined in the light of Cantor's remarkable discovery that infinity comes in degrees: some infinite sets are much bigger than others. Moore also gives a crisp sketch of Godel's celebrated proof, his clear presentation enabling the non-mathematical reader to grasp deep mathematical issues. Drawing on these technical results and on the early work of Wittgenstein, Moore outlines his own original account of the infinite. He argues that there are fundamental links between the infinite and the ineffable. In a final chapter on human finitude, these and other links are traced out, and the book concludes with a moving discussion of death and the poignancy of human finitude.

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9780415252850

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Reviews

'Moore's book points to deep and unresolved issues in the philosophy of mathematics, and even deeper issues in general philosophy ... It deserves serious study by both mathematicians and philosophers.' - Thomas Tymoczko, Philosophia Mathematica '[Moore's treatment of] the problems with which the history of thought about the infinite confronts us today ... shows that questions concerning the nature and existence of the infinte are still very much alive ... The importance of [his] book lies ... in its highly stimulating account of the nature of infinity and its bold defence of finitism.' - W.L.Craig, International Philosophical Quarterly

praise for the first edition (ISBN 0-415-07048-1): In The Infinite, A. W. Moore thoroughly discusses the infinite in its many guises . . . Moore's book provides us with an instructive and authoritative overview of a topic of considerable philosophical importance. <br>-Roger Penrose, Times Literary Supplement <br> praise for the first edition (ISBN 0-415-07048-1): In the last three thought-provoking chapters of his book Moore draws heavily, but creatively, on Kant and Wittgenstein. . . . Moore presents an analysis and proposed resolution of the issues that are both stimulating and accessible. <br>- Times Higher Education Supplement <br> praise for the first edition (ISBN 0-415-07048-1): The importance of Moore's book lies. . . in its highly stimulating account of the nature of infinity and its bold defence of finitism. <br>- International Philosophical Quarterly <br>

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