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Sorry for the confusion. I meant infinity, not the limit of infinity. I have no problem with the concept of infinity in terms of limits, but that's not what t

Sorry for the confusion. I meant infinity, not the limit of infinity. I have no problem with the concept of infinity in terms of limits, but that's not what this article is about. It's about the concept of infinity itself. And that is what I disagree with.

RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
I didn't down-vote you, by the way, even though I think you are mis-guided, and probably have been badly taught. From other things you've said I think you could, if it were presented well, find the whole topic intriguing. Because, in part, you can't have the one without the other. You can't talk about limits without having a model for infinity. They are inextricably entwined, each idea leading to the other. It's sounds to me like you've simply been put off by loads of badly written Pop-Math articles that attempt to boggle and astound, without showing the real truths as to why the whole subject is really, really cool, and simultaneously, useful and practical.
- david927 17y ago
  I have no problem conceding that. Do you have anything I could read that might enlighten me on this?
  - RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
    Oh, perfectly reasonable but rather tough question. My thinking about teaching infinity is now at odds both with everything I've read, and how I was taught. It also depends on your own inclinations, strengths and background. Brian Clegg's book on infinity gets good reviews, but I haven't read it. I'm thinking of starting a blog series on it, but with everything else I have on I may never really get to it. But as I say, in your specific case it really depends on your background. If you're really interested perhaps you could email me more details on what you've studied and what you've read, and I can write some brief articles by way of reply.
  - cabacon 17y ago
    Try _Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity_ by David Foster Wallace.

RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago

I didn't down-vote you, by the way, even though I think you are mis-guided, and probably have been badly taught. From other things you've said I think you could, if it were presented well, find the whole topic intriguing. Because, in part, you can't have the one without the other. You can't talk about limits without having a model for infinity. They are inextricably entwined, each idea leading to the other. It's sounds to me like you've simply been put off by loads of badly written Pop-Math articles that attempt to boggle and astound, without showing the real truths as to why the whole subject is really, really cool, and simultaneously, useful and practical.

david927 17y ago
I have no problem conceding that. Do you have anything I could read that might enlighten me on this?
- RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
  Oh, perfectly reasonable but rather tough question. My thinking about teaching infinity is now at odds both with everything I've read, and how I was taught. It also depends on your own inclinations, strengths and background. Brian Clegg's book on infinity gets good reviews, but I haven't read it. I'm thinking of starting a blog series on it, but with everything else I have on I may never really get to it. But as I say, in your specific case it really depends on your background. If you're really interested perhaps you could email me more details on what you've studied and what you've read, and I can write some brief articles by way of reply.
- cabacon 17y ago
  Try _Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity_ by David Foster Wallace.