| 
May 14th, 2009, 04:49 PM
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montréal
Posts: 47
Thanks: 12
Thanked 19 Times in 16 Posts
| |  I found the following very interesting...
A runner wants to run a certain distance - let us say 100 meters - in a finite time. But to reach the 100-meter mark, the runner must first reach the 50-meter mark, and to reach that, the runner must first run 25 meters. But to do that, he or she must first run 12.5 meters.
Since space is infinitely divisible, we can repeat these 'requirements' forever. Thus the runner has to reach an infinite number of 'midpoints' in a finite time. This is impossible, so the runner can never reach his goal. In general, anyone who wants to move from one point to another must meet these requirements, and so motion is impossible, and what we perceive as motion is merely an illusion.
I thought I would share it, I found it quite interesting to read.
__________________ Visit Chemistry Help Forum for all your chemistry questions and needs. Whisper me if you have any question or comments! |
May 14th, 2009, 04:53 PM
| | Super Member | | Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 523
Country:  Thanks: 56
Thanked 107 Times in 99 Posts
| |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sodapop  A runner wants to run a certain distance - let us say 100 meters - in a finite time. But to reach the 100-meter mark, the runner must first reach the 50-meter mark, and to reach that, the runner must first run 25 meters. But to do that, he or she must first run 12.5 meters.
Since space is infinitely divisible, we can repeat these 'requirements' forever. Thus the runner has to reach an infinite number of 'midpoints' in a finite time. This is impossible, so the runner can never reach his goal. In general, anyone who wants to move from one point to another must meet these requirements, and so motion is impossible, and what we perceive as motion is merely an illusion.
I thought I would share it, I found it quite interesting to read. | Since the time is proportional to the distance run, that simply means that all time will stop.
It is no wonder the runner gets no where -- no time to do. |
May 14th, 2009, 07:15 PM
|  | Flow Master | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Zeitgeist
Posts: 12,237
Country:  Thanks: 2,574
Thanked 4,760 Times in 4,192 Posts
| |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sodapop A runner wants to run a certain distance - let us say 100 meters - in a finite time. But to reach the 100-meter mark, the runner must first reach the 50-meter mark, and to reach that, the runner must first run 25 meters. But to do that, he or she must first run 12.5 meters.
Since space is infinitely divisible, we can repeat these 'requirements' forever. Thus the runner has to reach an infinite number of 'midpoints' in a finite time. This is impossible, so the runner can never reach his goal. In general, anyone who wants to move from one point to another must meet these requirements, and so motion is impossible, and what we perceive as motion is merely an illusion.
I thought I would share it, I found it quite interesting to read. | This is one of the so-called Paradoxes of Zeno. There is extensive analysis and discussion on the world wide web.
__________________ There are two things you should never try to prove: the impossible and the obvious. The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark. (Michelangelo Buonarroti)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
| | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:49 PM. | | |
