Where Does It End? — Adrian Moore on The Infinite

Where Does It End? — Adrian Moore on The Infinite

From MULTIVERSES by James Robinson

March 14, 2025 · 1h 16m · Season 1 · Episode 38

About this episode

In this episode, James Robinson and Adrian Moore explore the complexities and paradoxes of infinity in mathematics and philosophy.

Infinity may seem simple, just the absence of limits. But the closer we examine it, the more it unravels into paradox and mystery. Can some infinities be larger than others? How can an infinite hotel be fully booked yet still have room for more guests? In this episode of Multiverses, I'm joined by Adrian Moore, professor of philosophy at Oxford, to explore these questions. We dive into Hilbert's Hotel, Cantor's revolutionary work on transfinite numbers, and the philosophical and even theological implications of the absolute infinite—the place where maths itself seems to break down. Along the way, we ask: Is infinity something we can ever truly grasp? Or does it forever retreat beyond our understanding? If you like these topics, where science, maths give way to the unstable ground of philosophy ... subscribe! Adrian's academic homepage [https://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/people/adrian-moore] Adrian's book: The Infinite [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Infinite-Problems-Philosophy-W-Moore/dp/0415252857]

People in this episode

Host: James Robinson

Guest: Adrian Moore

Topics covered

  • infinity
  • philosophy
  • mathematics
  • paradox
  • transfinite numbers
  • Hilbert's Hotel

Keywords

  • infinity
  • Hilbert's Hotel
  • transfinite numbers
  • philosophy
  • mathematics
  • paradox
  • Adrian Moore

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oxford

Books & works: The Infinite

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