An arrow shot through space will fly half the distance to its mark, then half that distance, then half that distance again; logically, the arrow could continue to get closer and closer to its mark but never hit it. Yet we know this is unreasonable.
More and Less Infinity
Quite often in mathematics we come across the term infinity. “Parallel lines are lines in the same plane that never meet no matter how far they run" (Hamilton’s: Math To Build On, 1993). This definition implies that the lines could run to infinity and never touch or cross one another. This makes logical, reasonable sense.
Let’s consider another infinity. If we consider numbers by counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 … we could do this forever and ever and never reach the last number. We would have an infinity of all the real numbers. Now, if we begin counting by twos: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 … once again, we could do this forever and have an infinity of even numbers.
Now, which of the infinities is the largest? Doesn’t it seem logical that the infinity of numbers in the series: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 … would be larger than if we only count by even numbers? It may seem logical, but our mind knows it is unreasonable. Infinity is infinity no matter which way you start to count.
Quest for God
By the same kind of objective thinking, we know that the quest for God, for the greatest possible being that created everything that exists, that is omnipotent and omniscient, is a hopeless case. Yes, some will say that the order in the universe, the order in evolution, the order that followed the Big Bang which caused the cosmos to settle down and bring about Earth and its plants and animals including us as thinking beings, that order is a sign of God’s presence.
Nevertheless, there is no objective way to test this hypothesis. Some organized religions and the
ir followers claim that the existence of God’s word in the Bible is ample proof of his/her existence. Yet, why do they believe that book contains God’s word; because “the Bible tells me so.” In other words, the Bible is God’s word because the Bible says it is. Not only is this illogical, it is also unreasonable
Saint Anselm (1033-1109) thought he proved the existence of God by an a priori method of pure logical reasoning. The proof he conceived begins and ends in the mind. There is no need for objective proof whatsoever (Internet Medieval Sourcebook). His logic goes something like this.
Article comments
1 - Jeannie Danna
This was a fun article to read. My husband is teaching science next year so we have been watching the science Chanel lately. One of your exercises just blew me away! "how we can read as long as the fisrt anbd lsat lteters are corerct!" ...:) thanks
2 - Regis
The mind, or whatever it is, sure is full of surprises, isn't it?
3 - Dr Dreadful
Infinity: it helps if you think of it as a variable rather than a number, which it isn't.
St Anselm: His fundamental error is that he claims in step 1 that the God inside his mind is the greatest one he can think of. He then claims that the God outside his mind is greater than the one inside. He can't possibly know this. This greater God is still in his mind only.