How big is infinity? - Dennis Wildfogel

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-big-is-...

Using the fundamentals of set theory, explore the mind-bending concept of the "infinity of infinities" -- and how it led mathematicians to conclude that math itself contains unanswerable questions.

Lesson by Dennis Wildfogel, animation by Augenblick Studios.

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  Education

[ThinkTank255]

"'God' invented the universe and physics"

That is absurd, if the universe did not exist then no "inventing" could take place. You hold a childish and simplistic view of the universe (along with 85% of the rest of humanity). That we invented a word is not surprising. Who else would have invented it??? Your imaginary "God"??? LOL. Whether or not that word has meaning is a completely different matter. Being able to utter a word does not make it meaningful.

[CallTheWaambulance]

Wrong.

[amatysten]

Finite FOPL is not defined, that's what I meant.

Mathematicians do things that computers cannot. Head about Monster Group? Otherwise there would be no point in math.

Without theory of limits, btw, even moderately complex computations would not be possible. And it deals with infinity all the time.

[amatysten]

We were talking about Hilbert fighting infinity, remember? Why there are so many hilbert problems about infinite structures, if he really fought them?

[amatysten]

I've just defined "an infinite set" in non-circular manner, haven't I? Point to the place in definition where it circles.

Or you want "just infinity", not "an infinite set"? Well there's no such object in math. They don't prove theorems about "just infinity". When you speak that there's infinity of something you mean that a set on solutions is infinite.

Psss... please, stop using capitals, it's usually considered rude.

[ThinkTank255]

AGAIN: PLEASE DEFINE "INFINITY" IN A NON-CIRCULAR MANNER. IF you cannot do this then all of your ranting here is for naught.  We can go in circles here as long as you want and we will be no closer to defining "infinity".