Some paradoxes of Infinity revisited

DOI10.1007/S00009-022-02063-WMaRDI QIDQ6431943arXivWikidataFDO

Publication date 8 December 2022

Full work available at URL https://doi.org/10.1007/S00009-022-02063-W

Philosophy of mathematics (00A30) Philosophical and critical aspects of logic and foundations (03A05) Computational methods for problems pertaining to sequences, series, summability (40-08) Convergence and divergence of series and sequences (40A05)

arXiv classification

math.GM

Abstract: In this article, some classical paradoxes of infinity such as Galileo's paradox, Hilbert's paradox of the Grand Hotel, Thomson's lamp paradox, and the rectangle paradox of Torricelli are considered. In addition, three paradoxes regarding divergent series and a new paradox dealing with multiplication of elements of an infinite set are also described. It is shown that the surprising counting system of an Amazonian tribe, Pirah~{a}, working with only three numerals (one, two, many) can help us to change our perception of these paradoxes. A recently introduced methodology allowing one to work with finite, infinite, and infinitesimal numbers in a unique computational framework not only theoretically but also numerically is briefly described. This methodology is actively used nowadays in numerous applications in pure and applied mathematics and computer science as well as in teaching. It is shown in the article that this methodology also allows one to consider the paradoxes listed above in a new constructive light.

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