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The Ultimate Invisible: The Infinite
- Social Research: An International Quarterly
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 83, Number 4, Winter 2016
- pp. 879-904
- 10.1353/sor.2016.0059
- Article
- Additional Information
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Abstract:
The article concentrates, first, on cultural forms of invisibility (in myths, films, novels and in marginal groups in the majority culture) followed by an analysis of some claims that the religions make to disclose an invisible spiritual dimension in our lives. A second section is on forms of rational invisibility opened by mathematics, modern science (especially theoretical physics) and by claims to a realm of philosophical invisibility. Third, invoking the third century C.E. philosopher Plotinus, the article links the Infinite invisible realms to that of the Ultimate Invisible: the Infinite (both the quantitative infinite of number, space and time and the Absolute Infinite of Plotinus’ philosophy) is the Ultimate Invisible.