Mathematical limits exist in the mind of God?

[scapularkid8]

I’m doing a philosophy presentation on this question and need some help on where to begin. Preferrably short articles that are easily cited.

Mods will probably move this one, but oh well.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I don’t understand the question but that is a nice picture of the Trinity.

 

[scapularkid8]

The question that I have to begin to answer is: “Do mathematical limits exist in the mind of God?” That’s all I was given! Hopefully the Holy Spirit can guide me on this one!

 

[Pug]

I know this is completely unhelpful, but from where I stand the answer is yes:

The limit as n approaches infinity of (1+1/n)^n exists and equals Euler’s number e. I’d say God knows all about Euler’s number.

Or is this a question about being (what it means to exist)?

 

[Benedictus]

The question that I have to begin to answer is: “Do mathematical limits exist in the mind of God?” That’s all I was given! Hopefully the Holy Spirit can guide me on this one!

Here’s one vote for “this question makes no sense.”

Surely God understands something along the lines of the limit of such and such as some variable approaches whatever is the cube root of pi.

If the question means, “is God limited by math?” Well, that’s entirely different.

 

[Caesar]

Can you clarify?

I can help you out with the philosophy half (if I get a pot of coffee going and pace around in thought for a few hours ), but I’m no good at math

 

[wjp984]

well God would be bound by the rules of what he created unless he wanted to break them. So unles God wanted to trick us all as Decartes said how a demon can trick people, then 2+2=4 and God would be bound by that. So I think God is bound by mathematics to the extent that it is his creation and unless he wants to start a new universe with different rules that are completely not comprehensible to us, then God is bound by them at least partially.

 

[Hastrman]

well God would be bound by the rules of what he created unless he wanted to break them. So unles God wanted to trick us all as Decartes said how a demon can trick people, then 2+2=4 and God would be bound by that. So I think God is bound by mathematics to the extent that it is his creation and unless he wants to start a new universe with different rules that are completely not comprehensible to us, then God is bound by them at least partially.

Actually, even more than that. The only things God can’t do are those things which violate his nature, including the evil and the unreasonable. Unreason includes things which are contradictions in terms, like creating a square without right angles. By definition a square has right angles, so anything that doesn’t can’t be a square.

So in a sense, mathematical limits do exist in the mind of God–not even God can divide by 0, because that’s impossible under the rules of logic. In another sense, of course, because mathematical limits do really exist in some way, they would have to have some presence in the mind of God, or else they couldn’t exist.

 

[scapularkid8]

Yes, I agree, the question is vague and can be taken many ways, but I think my teacher did that to see how we would handle it.

My personal logic told me that: yes, the “limits” exist, but they don’t limit him because He created them and He can rewrite the universe instantaneously if He wished. However, our God is a God of reason, therefore He would not need to change anything He created because He dosen’t make mistakes! It is His will that mathematics have “limits”, even infinity is limited because it is confined by a definition.

 

[kevathaide01]

Try the phenomenon of the Golden Mean. There’re entire websites describing the Golden Mean as seen in nature. That doesn’t prove that the limits are in the mind of God. It just means he used them. I hope that helps.

Remember the Fibonacci description in the infamous da Vinci code book?

 

[buffalo]

This again goes to a faulty understanding of omnipotence. Catholic understanding is He is Almighty. In other words He accomplishes what He sets out to do.

There are things God cannot do.

He cannot lie
He cannot sin

 

[thechrismyster]

The question that I have to begin to answer is: “Do mathematical limits exist in the mind of God?” That’s all I was given! Hopefully the Holy Spirit can guide me on this one!

Since God is all-knowing. Both mathematical limits and no mathematical limits exist in the mind of God.

(i’d hand that in as a one sentence answer.)

 

[scapularkid8]

Since God is all-knowing. Both mathematical limits and no mathematical limits exist in the mind of God.

(i’d hand that in as a one sentence answer.)

I would, but I’m required to do a ten minute presentation on it, it’s not a paper. Besides, if I turned that in, he’d probably make me out to be some sort of insubordinate teenager who thinks they know everything. He’s really picky, but he dosen’t give the details of what he’s picky about! We’re always walking on eggshells around him because we don’t know if what we say will be “good enough” for him to contemplate. Bluntly: it stinks!

 

[Nullasalus]

I would, but I’m required to do a ten minute presentation on it, it’s not a paper. Besides, if I turned that in, he’d probably make me out to be some sort of insubordinate teenager who thinks they know everything. He’s really picky, but he dosen’t give the details of what he’s picky about! We’re always walking on eggshells around him because we don’t know if what we say will be “good enough” for him to contemplate. Bluntly: it stinks!

My advice:

You can argue that God is theoretically unlimited in His power, to the point where He is capable of what to us would seem like mathematical fallacy, or perhaps even paradox (2+2=6). However, this is conjecture based on potentialities of unseen creation - humanity has to go by the nature we are in and the nature we know, and therefore we are limited in our abilities to conclude what is possible (or impossible) for God.

Additional point to bring up: There are some mathematical infinities even in our universe, and therefore God is demonstrably unlimited in certain senses as far as we can tell. ‘What is the highest number possible? What is the lowest number possible?’ So it depends on the specific limit you’re talking about as well.

I will bet you anything, though, that your professor is expecting talk of paradox. Then again, I could be wrong!

 

[wjp984]

Actually, even more than that. The only things God can’t do are those things which violate his nature, including the evil and the unreasonable. Unreason includes things which are contradictions in terms, like creating a square without right angles. By definition a square has right angles, so anything that doesn’t can’t be a square.

So in a sense, mathematical limits do exist in the mind of God–not even God can divide by 0, because that’s impossible under the rules of logic. In another sense, of course, because mathematical limits do really exist in some way, they would have to have some presence in the mind of God, or else they couldn’t exist.

God would also be limited by quantam mechanics but that does not mean he could not wipe everything out and create a new universe with new rules that don’t obey any of the laws our universe goes by. Therefore, God is not limited by mathermatics completely since he can change the very existence of it. However, within his created universe, he would have to break his own rules to change them which does not seem like something worth doing.

 

[scriabin]

Isn’t the term “limits” an equivocation here?

“Mathematical limits” refers to a technique in calculus used to find an answer to a function. Sometimes it exists, sometimes it doesn’t; depending on the function. Example: find the limit of x as x approaches infinity for the function x/0. It doesn’t exist because dividing by zero is undefined.

But the normal philosophical use of the term “limits” when referring to God equates the word with a lack of omnipotence, a quality that most agree is not lacking in God.

Your assignment’s question is obscure. Good luck.