Filatova M.I. —
Category of potential infinity: new outlook upon the problem of correlation between philosophy, theology and science
// Philosophical Thought. – 2019. – ¹ 2.
– P. 1 - 35.
DOI: 10.25136/2409-8728.2019.2.27490
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/fr/article_27490.html
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Abstract: The subject of this research is the partial appearance of the potential infinite: in constructive realism – the ontological aspect, in Zeno’s aporias – the logical aspect. Self-insufficiency of each aspect suggests the need for comprehensive approach. In the ontology of constructive realism, the representation on the potentially infinite reality is “prior” to the possibility of its conceptualization. First steps made for the purpose of replenishing the inferiority of such ontology, lead to the aporias of Zeno of Elea, which clarify many of the unsolvable for the constructive realism itself issues. However, Zeno’s reasoning remains problematic. Answering some questions, it leads to the more complicated ones. The article uses the methods of interpretation, as well as critical analysis of ontological and logical aspects of the category of potential infinity. This publication is first to demonstrate that Zeno’s reasoning find justification in admitting that he comes to the concept of new reality. In turn, the problem of new reality has already been discovered in the onto-theological doctrine of Gregory Palamas in the unity of three components: 1) experience of transformation of the “old” nature; 2) revelation; 3) theoretical justification of the possibility of experience based on the explicit knowledge. The conclusion is made that such paradigm is universal. The problem of potential infinity is an exception. The ontological and logical aspects of this problem correspond with its first and last component. At the same time, due to the absence of correspondence with the second component, the problem of potential infinity remains pretty unsolvable. But it is open to contemplation on the path of its recognition as an exception to the paradigm of Palamas' and consideration in such context.