Infinity has two definitions which seem simple enough; one: “a number greater than any assignable quantity or countable number” and two: “the state or quality of being infinite” (aka “non-finite”). Put another way something infinite cannot be divided into countable parts and it cannot be assigned any bounds; it is limitless and endless; impossible to measure or calculate.
Given these definitions where in reality might we find such infinite things? Every physical thing except the Universe itself seems to have bounds around it. Then again, given that the Universe began as a singularity it too must have a starting boundary. And from that singularity we know the Universe is expanding “out” so it stands to reason that there must be an outer bound in that direction as well. (However strange it might be.) If we go in the opposite direction and get really small we hit the noisy “vacuum energy”; the ocean of energy ruled by quantum mechanics. That place seems to have its own “fine-grain Plank length” limits so there seems to be a lower bound there as well.
With regards to time we know history isn’t infinite since we can deflate the Universe back to its big bang singularity; and the resultant moment time began. And for the future we can assume that due to the Universe’s expansion at some distant time all matter will be too far from other matter to interact, essentially causing the “heat death” of the Universe and the end of time as we know it. So time too has boundary limits on both ends. Hence for all intents and purposes it seems we can’t find infinity anywhere in physical reality.
On the other hand with our mathematics infinity serves as a essential notion in the mathematical ideas that generate our formulas and equations. With the nifty “∞” symbol it’s easy enough to use infinity in all kinds of ways. The notion is most useful when you want to count or increment the number of calculation loops within an operation. That’s the core notion behind the working of calculus. With calculus we commonly evaluate a calculation as the resulting limit of summation for some equation where the variable X goes from zero to infinity. With the power of calculus we don’t need to actually “do” the calculation an infinite number of times to get a result. We can instead symbolically evaluate the equation and know that the result approaches, and thereby establishes, a bounded limit. So we find mathematics needs infinity to find its limit defined bounds and in reality boundaries are found everywhere.
This “infinity asymmetry” between reality and mathematics might just be the best evidence we have that reality is truly produced by math. We may intuitively already know this but it’s probably not well appreciated by most of us. Could it be that out from the infinite, continuous, and eternal waves in the great ocean of vacuum energy (let’s call it “noise”) that calculations produce the limits and resulting bounds that form the subatomic particles we know and love? And from those “wave-particles” other forces take over to form atoms. And those atoms mix via more forces to form our constituent material reality? If that is so then we’re really saying that pure math literally makes subatomic particles and therefore fundamentally forms reality. Literally!
If it is true that everything is literally “just math” and math is a system that describes interrelated entities and properties and how they operate upon one another, what exactly gives rise to the mathematical system that gives rise to all this, and us too? How does math “happen” as it were? And why is math understandable to us in the first place?
We here at MENTIC cognitive systems have an idea. And while it may be unprovable hopefully it isn’t unbelievable.
First let’s agree that the mind is really the only thing we can find that can be truly infinite. Therefore infinity is a notion, not a number. That seems fine right; given its definition. Next let’s agree that the basis of reality is found in the transformation and “knotting” of energy wave determinant “strings” (based on the theories of Supersymmetry), and that infinite calculations within the quantum vacuum “noise” forms these “strings”. (There’s a much deeper discussion to be had on how that might work but we’ll go into that later.) Okay, now we need to define what a “notion” is; so we can know better what we’re dealing with.
So a notion is “a conception or belief about something”. Given that definition clearly we are dealing with something mental; a construct of the mind. If infinity is truly a notion which is actively generating the existentially limited boundaries of reality then it’s existence and execution as a notion surely surpasses our minds. As a human race we could only have discovered such a preexisting notion, not invented it; being that it played a critical role in the reality of our evolutionary development.
So, whatever mind the infinity notion is used by to form reality surely isn’t ours. The mind that does “hold” it, and its evaluated constructs, must essentially be as spatially and temporally expansive as the Universe itself. And it must be of, or at least able to operate upon, the same wave energy that forms the wave-particles of our material Universe. This must be because of all the generated products (subatomic particles, fundamental forces, space, time) that have their existence dependent on the notion of a limit from zero to infinity. Whatever place subatomic particles occupy must be a place that holds the notion of infinity. And we too must be held within this same mental “place” since our existence is dependent on all that cascading math as well. A mind place like that,… well, given that description it must be the mind of God. Ta-da!
That’s the idea we’re proposing; that we are all in, and of, the mind of the eternal and infinite conscious “wave being” know as “God”. Physical reality is the result of God’s “mind” applying the notion of infinity, and its limiting calculus, to the infinite, continuous (unbroken/indiscreet) and eternal wave energy of God’s own “self”.
If this is the case, God’s mind would surely call itself what we call ourselves; “I”. And it would surely know what infinity is and what it’s good for; how it is a key tool in the mathematically driven Universe construction business. And all this would be understandable to our minds too since (per the plan) we to have a mind similar, but smaller, to that of God’s; with an “I” of its own.
Okay, so we now have a possible answer to the question of what is infinity’s identity. Since notions are found in minds, and infinity is purely a notion then infinity’s identity could be said to be the identity of the mind that holds it. That mind surely refers to itself as “I” since that’s how minds refer to themselves. As such the identity of infinity is “I”. “I”; the being that exists because it declares itself to be. “I” the being from whence all else cascades from its notions. “I”; the being otherwise known as God. “I”; the being that exists because of a greater “I”. “I”; the being that is you because you too can have an infinite mind; able to ponder the mind of God.
If “I”s are beings that have come to know themselves through infinity’s identity, simply by having their own “little” “I”, then perhaps through God’s great “I” they can all cross and enjoy the amazing creations of infinity together; with the God that created all and with each other. Making the “I” the common “backdoor” of all minds that makes that possible.
But what if in making that crossing connection we lose our little self “I”s to the much much greater “I” of God? A micro infinity absorbed by a mega infinity so to say. Well if God is as loving as we (some of us) hope, perhaps God has worked out a way to save our little “I”s; enabling us to cross his infinity whilst keeping our unique and individual “I”s safe at the same time.
To do this perhaps God had to take on a smaller micro infinity “I”, like ours, to allow for us to cross with rather than God’s Universe sized mega infinity. That would have the effect of letting our variables cross with Gods, and each others’ over a simple thread and in the end allow us to find our selves on the other side of a shared infinite eternal infinity which has all the infinite mentally emergent products of state available to us for exploration and enjoyment.
Could it be that all our “I”s will truly be saved and will be able to enjoy the fruits of eternity together thanks to God doing all that for us? Well, for those who choose to hope, feed their faith, and do their work of adding to that infinity in constructively valued ways, perhaps. Perhaps our “I”s will see such a place. That or all “this” is existential fun in infinity’s identity. Time will tell.
