When we look
at the material reality, and the most widely accepted idea of what reality is
(science), it is really hard to comprehend infinity. In this article I want to
explain infinity and how mathematics can explain 2 infinities simultaneously
existing.
THE NEWTONIAN
WORLD
According to
the Newtonian world 1+1=2 and everything from the simple to the complex is
verifiable by some form of equation. For example, if I throw a ball with the
weight of 500 grams, at 5 miles per hour, at a 70 degree angle, it will land in
a specific space. Given that all variables are the same, it will be an
experiment that is repeatable. Our perception could be deemed as very limited
in this macrocosmic, or visible, world.
PLATO’S CAVE
There is an
allegorical story that sums up our limited perception of reality called Plato’s
cave. The story goes as follows – a group of individuals are born in a cave and
chained up by their captures, so that they can only face in one direction. As
people pass outside the cave, their shadows reflect on the cave wall creating a
show that appears to be the ‘real world’ to the prisoners who have only ever
perceived shadows. As time passes by, the prisoners (not knowing anything
outside of this show) believe this perception to be the true reality. This reality
is then shattered when the are set free, only, those who are imprisoned choose
to stay in the cave in the comfort of what they perceive to be reality- the
reality of the shadows on the walls.
This is
similar to our reality, what is true and what is seen are two different things,
and it could be argued that truth (apart from a few core truths) is subjective.
THE UNSEEN
WORLD
We have a
whole light spectrum that is beyond our scope of vision, and the same for sound
frequency. For example; a bear can smell something from 20 miles away. It can
smell through walls and even metal cans. These are subtle scents that humans
can’t pick up from the next room. Does this mean the scent is nonexistent? Of
course not, it is just beyond our perception.
QUANTUM PHYSICS
Newtonian
physics is predictable, yet the quantum world has a whole set of rules of its
own. Quantum physics is the science of the microcosm, concerning that which
exists at the size of less than 1000th of an inch – and this tiny world plays
in a different ball park. In the opening paragraph I mentioned throwing a ball
with the weight of 500 grams, at 5 miles per hour, at a 70 degree angle, and
that by the Newtonian laws of physics the experiment and results are repeatable
if the variables are the same. However, if you used the same example of a
quantum ball being thrown at 5 miles per hour, at a 70 degree angle, it has the
potential to land in a different place each time. In fact the ball may explode
one time, move backwards the next and then stay still the following time.
There is a
study called the Bells Theorem or the double slit experiment, conveying that
mere observation of the quantum world changes the outcome of certain
experiments performed.
TO INFINITY
AND BEYOND
With the
context of the mysterious quantum world, it may be better understood how one
could grasp the idea of infinity – something that exists outside of the
consensus understanding of the material reality. Something without a start or
an end.
When we think
of infinity, it could be argued that if something has no start and no end, it
must be all encompassing – meaning it should include everything in its
parameters of existence. But can 2 infinities exist simultaneously?
A simple
mathematical formula can theoretically show how 2 infinite things can co-exist,
or to word differently, show in a Newtonian sense how infinite parallel
dimensions could coexist.
How Can 2 Infinities Exist Simultaneously?
For this we only need 2 numbers, yet the more numbers we use, the more parallel infinities we see are in existence. When you count in whole numbers, we go from 1 to infinity in a single infinite stream of numbers. However, when we compartmentalize the numbers we infinite space between each number. There is no way of getting from 1 to 2 when counting numbers in fractions eg 1.1-1.2 and so on to 1.9. As we continue further we get 1.10, 1.11… 1.20, 1.21… and so on to 1.999999999 and beyond. There is an infinite number of combinations between an infinite amount of numbers.