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Beyond Infinity: Augustine and Cantor

1995; Laval University; Volume: 51; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.7202/400897ar

1703-8804

Adam Drozdek,

Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies

Cet article entend montrer que pour Augustin : 1) l'infini est un concept inné qui est prérequis à toute connaissance ; 2) les mathématiques -parce qu'elles reposent sur le concept d'infini -constituent le meilleur outil pour parvenir à la connaissance de Dieu ; et 3) Dieu n'est ni fini ni infini: sa grandeur est au-delà de l'infini.Augustin est original en ce qu'il allie ces trois aspects dans sa philosophie ; or ces mêmes trois aspects se trouvent à nouveau chez Cantor. SUMMARY : It is argued in this paper that for Augustine 1. infinity is an inborn concept which is a prerequisite of any knowledge ; 2. mathematics -because it relies on the concept of infinity-is the best tool of acquiring knowledge about God, and 3. God is neither finite nor infinite and his greatness is beyond infinity.Augustine is original in combining these three aspects in his philosophy, and all three aspects can again be found in Cantor.A n eminent theologian and philosopher, Etienne Gilson, wrote that although "there is no other attribute of God more known to theologians than infinity," Augustine in listing God's attributes curiously "does not remember infinity."Notwithstanding this omission, Gilson suggests that Augustine "is sure that God is infinite". 1It seems, however, that this conclusion is unjustified and according to Augustine, infinity is not one of God's attributes, since God transcends even the infinite. IIn his Manichean period, Augustine saw God as an infinite corporeal reality surrounding the world like "an infinite sea" (Conf.7.5), as extended infinitely in the space (7.14), but he abandoned this view after his conversion.Then he saw that God