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Nothing
The existence of Nothing ostensibly requires no justification. It is the only phenomenon which is commonly considered to be essentially natural and intrinsically logical.
But just what IS Nothing?
The "void" of space isn't Nothing as in non-existent. Space may be non-material - i.e. it does not have the property of mass - but it occupies volume and anything which has a physical presence in the Universe exists. An infinite expanse of space devoid of matter requires no less logical justification than an infinite expanse of matter devoid of space.
Semantically, Nothing has two connotations :
Nothing(L) (in logical terms) is the null set - represented by the symbol 'Ø'.
Nothing(A) (in the abstract) is 'that which does not exist'.
But, 'that which does not exist' doesn't exist. It isn't the empty set. It's not a set at all.
To consider Nothing(A) would be not to consider.
To perceive Nothing(A) would be not to perceive.
To understand Nothing(A) would be not to understand.
(Authors Note: If you think you understand the preceding sentence, please go back and re-read it until you are absolutely certain that you don't.)
Imagine an inert, infinitesimal point in space - and then try to imagine that same point NOT in space. Better yet, try to describe for me something that neither has nor lacks the attributes of quality, quantity or location. Logic and perception require definition and Nothing(A) is undefined.
In quantitative analysis the set of null value - represented by the symbol 'Ø' - is neither positive nor negative. It is neutral. Nothing(L) is the neutrality of ALL values - qualitative, quantitative and spatial. As a necessary but indefinite primordial element it is simply an abstract interpretation of the equilibrium that pervades the structure of the Universe.
Nothing vs Infinity
Reality is usually measured and described within the parameters of three basic criteria - quality, quantity and location (dimensional position and configuration). Quantitatively there is a negative equivalent for every positive value. Dimensionally there is an opposite for every vector. If each of the fundamental building blocks of the Universe is composed of reciprocally balanced sets of qualities and anti-qualities, then within the finite world the equivalent of Nothing exists. But in the very real and not so 'relative' domain of infinity, true Nothing exists - all in one place at the same time.
(3) Consider the fractions 1/2 and 1/999999,999,999,999,999 . As the denominator of a fraction increases, its value decreases. Though infinity is undefined and cannot be represented by a value, it is obvious that if the numerator of a fraction is finite, then regardless how large that numerator may be, the ratio of any finite quantity compared to infinity is Ø.
(2) Using any given point in space as the point of origin for an X,Y,Z axis, one may theoretically extend equidistant lines to infinity throughout the spectrum of three-dimensional coordinates. The procedure inscribes a sphere which theoretically encompasses the Universe. By definition, the selected point is the center of that sphere - and the center of the Universe. Since the same can be done for all points in the Universe, every point in the cosmos is its center.
(1) If every quality has a reciprocal, then the sum of the qualities in the Universe has a 'null' value. The equivalent of nothing exists, just not all in the same place...unless you look at it from the point of view above (infinity).
From the perspective of infinity, nothing exists (1), has no size (3) and no relative location (2). It is the only perspective from which quantitative, qualitative and dimensional values all vanish. (Ø).
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