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Rejoice the Infinite!

In: To Infinity and Beyond

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  • Eli Maor

    (Oakland University, Department of Mathematical Sciences)

Abstract

From times immemorial, man has aspired to the infinite. The first known attempt to reach infinity occurred in Babel and is told in Genesis: “And they said: ‘Come, let us build a city, and a tower, with its top in heaven.’” Their attempt was doomed to fail, for God, fearing that their aspirations may be too high, “confounded their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Genesis 11:4). Ever since, the Tower of Babel has become an allegory of the infinite—or of man’s futile efforts to reach it.

Suggested Citation

  • Eli Maor, 1987. "Rejoice the Infinite!," Springer Books, in: To Infinity and Beyond, chapter 17, pages 136-138, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-1-4612-5394-5_17
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-5394-5_17
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