Re: How to do magic with infinity

From: Han de Bruijn (Han.deBruijn_at_DTO.TUDelft.NL)
Date: 11/02/04 

Date: Tue, 02 Nov 2004 12:46:24 +0100

Frank Piron wrote:
> So we have to accept that there "are" numbers which can be generated
> by code which can be written down. But the numbers will never exist
> in the sense that there are as many (physical) objects as the number
> denotes. These are the "Pegasus" numbers. We have a consistent imagination
> about how they could be created (put wings at a horse <=> take 10 to
> the power of 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 10), but they will
> never exist as "count of physical object numbers".

Right. Expressed otherwise: natural numbers are not necessarily
counting numbers / cardinal numbers. They can be used for many
other purposes.

> For the quasar numbers we will never be able to write down a generating
> program. These are real beasts. (if they do exist ;-))
>
>> I am tempted to accept the existence of a number if it can actually
>> be created, as soon as I need it. However, this is not a _static_,
>> but rather a _dynamic_ kind of existing.
>
> In the sense of: "this number is possible and i know _how_ it may
> become existent."

Affirmative.

You've pushed my thinking to the edge of what I'm able to think ;-)
I find you a good debater.

Han de Bruijn

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