A
Anselm33
Guest
Another thread has been posted on God and mathematics. After coming across a very fine paper by Adam Drozdek (Beyond Infinity:Augustine and Cantor, see
erudit.org/revue/ltp/1995/v51/n1/400897ar.pdf
I thought it would be good to focus on one aspect of mathematics as it relates to the Divine:set theory and the infinite.
I’ll quote from the paper:
“To summarize, there are three important aspects of Augustine’s discussion of the
problem of infinity. First, infinity is an inborn concept which enables any knowledge.
Second, infinity can be found in the purest form in mathematics, and thus mathematics
is the best tool of acquiring knowledge about God. Third, God is neither finite nor
infinite and his greatness surpasses even the infinite. Augustine is original in combining
these three aspects in his philosophy ; some of them can be found in other
philosophers and theologians, but also in mathematicians.”
and, with regard to Cantor, one of the founders of set theory and trans-finite number theory,
"If mathematics, and its foundation, set theory, is so certain, it should be brought
in service of theology. Set theory is founded on the structure of the created universe,
and it can be used to disclose this structure to direct people’s attention to God. In
this sense, Cantor saw his work as Christian service and as a means of bringing
people to rational (vernunftgemqfien) theism… In particular, the theory of transfinite
numbers could help in proving that the world was created… Also, in spite of the
difference between the transfinite and the Absolute, the latter can be approached
through the avenue of the transfinite. Not surprisingly then, different infinite cardinalities
“were for Cantor somewhat sacred and in a sense steps leading to the throne
of the infinity, to the throne of God.”
The same subject is discussed in Rudy Rucker’s book “Infinity and the Mind”.
I’d like to hear responses to these ideas (it would help people if they read Drozdek’s paper first), I hope to also put a more extended discussion on my blog (rationalcatholicscientist.com/ or rationalcatholic.blogspot.com/
erudit.org/revue/ltp/1995/v51/n1/400897ar.pdf
I thought it would be good to focus on one aspect of mathematics as it relates to the Divine:set theory and the infinite.
I’ll quote from the paper:
“To summarize, there are three important aspects of Augustine’s discussion of the
problem of infinity. First, infinity is an inborn concept which enables any knowledge.
Second, infinity can be found in the purest form in mathematics, and thus mathematics
is the best tool of acquiring knowledge about God. Third, God is neither finite nor
infinite and his greatness surpasses even the infinite. Augustine is original in combining
these three aspects in his philosophy ; some of them can be found in other
philosophers and theologians, but also in mathematicians.”
and, with regard to Cantor, one of the founders of set theory and trans-finite number theory,
"If mathematics, and its foundation, set theory, is so certain, it should be brought
in service of theology. Set theory is founded on the structure of the created universe,
and it can be used to disclose this structure to direct people’s attention to God. In
this sense, Cantor saw his work as Christian service and as a means of bringing
people to rational (vernunftgemqfien) theism… In particular, the theory of transfinite
numbers could help in proving that the world was created… Also, in spite of the
difference between the transfinite and the Absolute, the latter can be approached
through the avenue of the transfinite. Not surprisingly then, different infinite cardinalities
“were for Cantor somewhat sacred and in a sense steps leading to the throne
of the infinity, to the throne of God.”
The same subject is discussed in Rudy Rucker’s book “Infinity and the Mind”.
I’d like to hear responses to these ideas (it would help people if they read Drozdek’s paper first), I hope to also put a more extended discussion on my blog (rationalcatholicscientist.com/ or rationalcatholic.blogspot.com/