Infinitely Small But > 0
This is a maths AND philosophy question. and I have it posted it as two separate but identically worded questions.
Infinity is a conceptual number which can always be added to and never actual reach infinity because infinity is a concept.
Is there a mathematical term for an infinitely small number that is greater than zero? This special number would also be a conceptual number. I don't think it can be a negative number, but it has to be much smaller than .....
0.000000000000000000000000
In fact infinitely smaller than the above, but greater than 0.0
What brought this to mind was more philosophical than mathematical. I was looking for a term that would help describe a wild idea is in fact impossible. However it's impossible to prove 100% that something is untrue ... maybe 99.999999999.....99999% but not 100%
Was it Bertrand Russell who said that it was impossible to prove that a teapot was not floating around some distant planet, or something like that?
Infinity is a conceptual number which can always be added to and never actual reach infinity because infinity is a concept.
Is there a mathematical term for an infinitely small number that is greater than zero? This special number would also be a conceptual number. I don't think it can be a negative number, but it has to be much smaller than .....
0.000000000000000000000000
In fact infinitely smaller than the above, but greater than 0.0
What brought this to mind was more philosophical than mathematical. I was looking for a term that would help describe a wild idea is in fact impossible. However it's impossible to prove 100% that something is untrue ... maybe 99.999999999.....99999% but not 100%
Was it Bertrand Russell who said that it was impossible to prove that a teapot was not floating around some distant planet, or something like that?
I can't find anything closer either.
in·fin·i·tes·i·mal [in-fin-i-tes-uh-muhl] adjective
1.
indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system.
2.
immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: to an infinitesimal degree.
3.
of, pertaining to, or involving infinitesimals.
noun
4.
an infinitesimal quantity.
5.
Mathematics . a variable having zero as a limit.
in·fin·i·tes·i·mal [in-fin-i-tes-uh-muhl] adjective
1.
indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system.
2.
immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: to an infinitesimal degree.
3.
of, pertaining to, or involving infinitesimals.
noun
4.
an infinitesimal quantity.
5.
Mathematics . a variable having zero as a limit.
SOLUTION
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ASKER
Would you mind to enter in details and give more examples?I'm an atheist but I find it much easier to argue religious topics from that of an agnostic's point of view. The reason for this is that it's impossible to prove 100% that god does not exist.
In a typical atheist vs theist debate, theists will propose arguments that might seem outlandish and impossible, BUT one has to always agree that such an argument is not totally and completely impossible and that there is faint, miniscule, glimmer of a chance that it is true.
This is the reason I need more words for my lexicon of very small things.
I see.
But this throws you into Pascal's Wager direction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager
which has lot of counterarguments
http://www.iep.utm.edu/pasc-wag/
But this throws you into Pascal's Wager direction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager
which has lot of counterarguments
http://www.iep.utm.edu/pasc-wag/
SOLUTION
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"I'm an atheist but I find it much easier to argue religious topics from that of an agnostic's point of view. The reason for this is that it's impossible to prove 100% that god does not exist."
Who can prove that exists or does not exist less than 100%?
I thought is a matter of belief.
And when comes to reality, then either exists or not.
Sometimes I feel that is similar with aliens (extraterrestrial beings).
Until you do not have a direct encounter, which makes sense only for you and will have an effect over you, nothing may convince you of such existence.
Your searched word "infinitesimal", "epsilon"... is not a good argument for such debates.
Who can prove that exists or does not exist less than 100%?
I thought is a matter of belief.
And when comes to reality, then either exists or not.
Sometimes I feel that is similar with aliens (extraterrestrial beings).
Until you do not have a direct encounter, which makes sense only for you and will have an effect over you, nothing may convince you of such existence.
Your searched word "infinitesimal", "epsilon"... is not a good argument for such debates.
SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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SOLUTION
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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thanks to everyone
ASKER
I searched the various online dictionaries in vein, for a example of it's usage as a noun.