بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

بینهایت بالقوه

فهرست علوم

فهرست مباحث ریاضیات
مجموعه

مجموعه
بینهایت
بینهایت واقعی
بینهایت بالقوه







Aristotle's potential–actual distinction


Aristotle handled the topic of infinity in Physics and in Metaphysics. He distinguished between actual and potential infinity. Actual infinity is completed and definite, and consists of infinitely many elements. Potential infinity is never complete: elements can be always added, but never infinitely many.

For generally the infinite has this mode of existence: one thing is always being taken after another, and each thing that is taken is always finite, but always different.
— Aristotle, Physics, book 3, chapter 6.

Aristotle distinguished between infinity with respect to addition and division.

But Plato has two infinities, the Great and the Small.
— Physics, book 3, chapter 4.