The Impossibility of an Actually Infinite Future: A Theory-Neutral - PhilArchive
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A deep philosophical paradox lurks in how we think about time: can the future be truly infinite, or does that idea collapse under its own logical weight?
Actual vs Potential InfinityPhilosophy of TimeDynamic Theory of TimeMetaphysical Finitism
Theory Briefing
- Dynamic theories of time require the future to be both a fixed totality and an open sequence — a structural contradiction exposed in this paper.
- The argument is "theory-neutral," meaning it challenges actualist infinities whether you believe time is tensed, tenseless, or growing.
- If an actually infinite future is impossible, major frameworks in cosmology, theology, and metaphysics face a serious foundational crisis.