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The end of infinity?

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Title: The end of infinity?
Authors: Padavic-Callaghan, Karmela (AUTHOR)
Source: New Scientist. 8/9/2025, Vol. 267 Issue 3555, p28-32. 5p. 5 Color Photographs.
Subjects: Infinity (Mathematics), Mathematics, Worldview, Computer scientists, Empirical research
Abstract: The article discusses the emerging movement of ultra-finitism, a philosophical stance among mathematicians, philosophers, computer scientists, and physicists who argue that extremely large numbers and the concept of infinity undermine the foundations of science. Proponents, including figures like Doron Zeilberger and Justin Clarke-Doane, contend that these concepts are disconnected from human experience and advocate for a mathematical framework that prioritizes feasible numbers. The article highlights a recent conference at Columbia University that gathered researchers to explore these ideas, suggesting a growing interest in ultra-finitism as a serious alternative to traditional mathematical approaches. Additionally, it touches on the historical context of ultra-finitism, including the contributions of Alexander Esenin-Volpin, who challenged the acceptance of infinity in mathematics. [Extracted from the article]
Copyright of New Scientist is the property of New Scientist Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infinity+%28Mathematics%29%22">Infinity (Mathematics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics%22">Mathematics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Worldview%22">Worldview</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+scientists%22">Computer scientists</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empirical+research%22">Empirical research</searchLink>
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  Data: The article discusses the emerging movement of ultra-finitism, a philosophical stance among mathematicians, philosophers, computer scientists, and physicists who argue that extremely large numbers and the concept of infinity undermine the foundations of science. Proponents, including figures like Doron Zeilberger and Justin Clarke-Doane, contend that these concepts are disconnected from human experience and advocate for a mathematical framework that prioritizes feasible numbers. The article highlights a recent conference at Columbia University that gathered researchers to explore these ideas, suggesting a growing interest in ultra-finitism as a serious alternative to traditional mathematical approaches. Additionally, it touches on the historical context of ultra-finitism, including the contributions of Alexander Esenin-Volpin, who challenged the acceptance of infinity in mathematics. [Extracted from the article]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of New Scientist is the property of New Scientist Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Text: English
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              Text: 8/9/2025
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