Author:
Wade A. Tisthammer
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Date Posted: 03/ 5/04 11:59am
In reply to:
Damoclese
's message, "Infinity squared" on 02/28/04 7:19am
>>
>>Well, the reason that wouldn't work is that the
>>past, since it is infinite, has no beginning.
>>Shandy was never born, he was always writing. An
>>infinite past can't have a beginning. If it did,
>>(along with other problems) it would never get to the
>>present. (Confer what I said about Shandy being
>>infinitely far behind.)
>
>
>Which is why I said zero is a place to simply attack
>infinity, (one has to start somewhere, and what better
>place than zero?) anticipating this criticism.
What? How is zero a place to attack infinity?
>Why
>start at zero? Why start at last year? Why move
>forwards from zero? Why count backwards from last
>year?
Because it's a convenient and successful way to describe the situation, to demonstrate the veracity of the premises. Other numbering schemes are possible, I just chose this one for simplicity and because it works. In any case, I've proved that Shandy is either infinitely far behind or he finishes at some point. Do you deny this?
>Infinity also wouldn't start "last year" whatever that
>would mean for Shandy.
I didn't say otherwise.
>"Last year" is as arbirtrary
>and as ambigous as starting at zero when the past is
>infinite. Hell, just for fun, why don't we make last
>year 0. What day did he write about? 1.
What's day 1? What numbering scheme do you use.
Damoclese, I think you need to calm down and think more clearly. The argument is valid, bickering about which number scheme we could use doesn't get us anywhere. The second and third premises of the argument are still true.
>And just as a reminder, no one has ever said that
>infinity is or has to be logical.
I think it has to be reasonably logical. If an infinite past is illogical, I don't think we should accept it as capable of existing in the real world. I like to base my beliefs on reason, not illogic.
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