In the Beginning was the Apeiron: Infinity in Greek PhilosophyThe book is a historical investigation of the problem of infinity in Greek ontology and physics - more specifically, the problem of the infinite size of the world and of its eternal existence, the problem of the infinity of worlds, of infinite divisibility of matter, of infinity of attributes or attribute modes (e.g., infinity of atom shapes), and the problem of infinity of nonphysical entities such as mathematical constructs. The view espoused here is that infinity was of paramount importance for Greek philosophers even if it was not explicitly discussed by them. It served as an unspoken assumption without which Greek philosophy could hardly be possible. |
Common terms and phrases
aether Anaxagoras Anaximander Anaximander's apeiron appears argument Aristotle assumed assumption atomists body caelo causal cause Chrysippus circle concept considered continuous continuum contradiction cosmic cosmos created Demiurge Democritus divine dyad earth Eleatic elements Empedocles entities Epicurus eternal Eudemus everything existence explain fact finite fire geometrical Greek heaven impossible indefinite dyad indivisible indivisible lines infinite divisibility infinite number infinite worlds infinity of atoms infinity of numbers infinity of worlds interlingua interval knowledge lekta lekton limit lines Lucretius magnitude mathematical mean Melissus mixture motion movement nature nite object ontological paradoxes Parmenides particular peras perfect Philebus philosophy Phys physical Plato plurality polygons possible prime matter principle problem of infinity proof prop proportion Pythagoreans seeds sense shapes Simplicius spatial atom Speusippus sphere spherical statement Stoics substance temporal infinity Theophrastus theory things tion triangles University Press unlimited unwritten doctrines void Xenocrates Xenophanes Zeno Zeno's Zeno's paradoxes