ON THE NATURE OF REALITY chapter 11

THE INFINITE AS A SIMPLE TRUE IDEA

     Consider infinity as related to mathematics. No number can be infinite because no matter how huge it may be, it must be limited in order to be conceived as a number. Infinity can only be conceived as that which transcends the highest conceivable number. The highest number need not be conceived as having an exact numerical value. The point is that no matter how huge a number may be, the infinite must always be conceived as transcending it. If this is true, then infinity must be something completely different from numbers.
Any number, no matter how huge, must, by definition, be that which can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided. A true infinity can not be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided. Thus, the idea of the infinite can not be a number.
     Multiple infinities can not exist. Each infinity would have to be linear, and therefore, a limitation on each other. A true infinity must be as broad as it is long.
     A true infinity must transcend everything. Yet, such an idea instantly becomes limited. To transcend this limitation, a true infinity must then transcend its transcendence of everything. Yet again, it becomes limited. To escape, infinity must then transcend its transcendence of its transcendence of everything. Thus, infinity is that which continuously transcends all limitations.
     Infinity always moves outside any limitation. Yet, it does not have to move because it is always already there. In this respect, infinity seems to be similar to self-consciousness as a duality which must always be outside of itself in order to be real.
     Infinity must continuously transcend all realities and all potentialities. If ever there were a time when this condition did not prevail, then infinity would be limited and could not exist. There can be no idea of that which does not exist. Even the idea of nothingness has real existence as an idea. All non-existent objects or ideas, such as "mermaids" or "aether," remain equal to the idea of nothingness. However, all simple true ideas that compose such false combinations remain real. If the idea of the infinite is unreal, it must be shown to be the product of a false combination. However, because he infinite must transcend everything, including all false combinations, then it must be a simple true idea and, therefore, real.
     Infinity can not be any particular object or idea because of the obvious limitations involved. It can not be a number. It can not be space because space is always limited to the distance between its two furthest objects. It can not pass through time because the speed of light is limited and can not be equaled. In addition, it is impossible for duality to ever raise a non-existent object or idea to more than the idea of nothing because such objects or ideas are never "there" to be raised. Only ideas or objects that possess potential real existence can be raised above the level of nothingness by duality. If ever infinity possessed potential existence, then it would have been limited and, therefore, non-existent and no possible idea. Because the infinite is an idea, it must be real. Yet, because the infinite can not be limited to an idea, then the idea of the infinite must also be the idea of Infinite Duality.
     Thus, if infinity is real, it must guarantee the existence of all dualities, realities, and potentialities. Yet, the idea of the infinite can not have been derived from the idea of nothingness or from experience. The idea of the infinite had to have been directly given to finite duality. The fact that finite duality does not understand it makes no difference whatsoever to its reality.
     Dualities, realities, and potentialities can be finite because, as they pass through time, they can change from one form to another. However, they can never go out of existence because Infinite Duality must guarantee their existence. In fact, if the finite ever becomes non-existent, then the infinite becomes limited and non-existent. Thus, Infinite Duality must have always existed. Also, since self-consciousness must move toward the infinite which guarantees the existence of self-consciousness, then both Infinite Duality and self-consciousness must have always existed.
     If the idea of the infinite dies out in the idea of nothingness, as self-consciousness seems to do, then the infinite would be continuously limited and there could be no idea of it. Non-existence is never real except as being equivalent to the idea of nothingness. The only possible way that finite duality can comprehend non-existence is in its equivalence to the idea of nothingness inherent in all false combinations. Since the idea of the infinite does not fit into this category, it must be a simple true idea.
     In addition, if only the finite exists, then duality could never gain an idea of the infinite because the idea of nothingness constantly surrounds duality, limiting it to the finite. If the infinite were merely potential idea, it would be limited and therefore non-existent. If the infinite were non-existent, it could never be raised above the level of nothingness by duality. Therefore, infinity must be a simple true idea that has been given to finite duality.