Rant about the number line…

Imagine all of the numbers from zero to infinity. Too hard? Okay, imagine all of the numbers between zero and one.

Of course, there are an infinite number of them. Only one positive integer, maybe, but a heck of a lot of rationals and reals.

Now, imagine all of the integers from one to infinity. You can do that. Just think of a big number and add one. Do that until the end of time and you’ll still be counting.

Now, the kicker is that there are many more real numbers than there are integers and there are many more imaginary numbers than there are reals, even though integers, reals and imaginaries are all infinite in their own right.

One can think of this phenomenon as an infinite array of rings enclosed in each other. Of course, there are an infinite number of rings.

In a vain attempt to explain this concept in scientific terms, George Cantor contemplated these abstractions, came up with the idea of the aleph, and then went stark, raving mad. I would have too if I could think that deeply. Or, if I really cared that deeply.

But, now to the point I wanted to make. I brought up those esoteric ideas about numbers so that I could compare that concept to religious dogma.

Imagine all of the knowledge in the world. Let’s map all knowledge to the positive integers. Is there a one to one relationship between all knowledge and all integers? I don’t know, but I don’t think so. This sounds like an aleph problem also. Think about that, and we’ll discuss it next time.

It is probably true that one person or one computer cannot encapsulate all knowledge. Of course, that’s a given. But, I want to talk today about a subset of all knowledge: scientific knowledge. Not only is scientific knowledge infinite, much of it is unknown. Of course, we know about quantum theory, quarks and such, but we don’t know why we cannot capture the quantum leaps that the components of nuclei make. There is much to be answered.

So, we’ll have to plod along, contemplating the incomprehensible, and push scientific theory forward just as Sisyphus spends an eternity in hell doing.

But, what of religion. How does it fit into this vision of the real world? I would like to propose a theory that religion fills in the holes in scientific knowledge. Just as we can’t contemplate the voids in the number line if real numbers are not considered, we can’t understand science unless we contemplate the holes in scientific knowledge. Even though scientific knowledge is infinite, there is also an infinite amount of knowledge which is unknown at this time.

But, what is a redneck from West Virginia to think about all of those holes in the scientific knowledge set? He’ll do what he’s done for eons. He’ll look up to the heavens and thank God for the knowledge he has, and appreciate the fact that as knowledge becomes evident, more questions then arise which cannot be answered with the current information set.

That’s enough for today. Your assignment is to study the life and death of George Cantor and his contribution to scientific knowledge. Catch you later…