Potential versus Actual Infinity—Lectures on Infinity (lecture 5)

Two radically different conceptions of the infinite—potentialism versus actualism. Disputed for millennia, then a sea change in views. Contemporary analysis adopts a modal perspective on potentialism.

Welcome to these Lectures on Infinity, my series of lectures exploring all my favorite paradoxes and conundrums, based on my book, The Book of Infinity.

In this instance, we shall consider the classical dispute between two conceptions of infinity—potential infinity versus actual infinity.

• A transcript of this lecture is available.

• Find the lectures here on Infinitely More in the lectures-on-infinity tag.

• The lectures are appearing on YouTube.

• The whole lecture course is hosted at Ergo: Lectures on Infinity.

• This lecture is based on my essay Potential versus Actual Infinity.

• The essay appears in my new book, The Book of Infinity.