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An epistemological use of nonstandard analysis to answer Zeno's objections against motion
Authors:William I McLaughlin  Sylvia L Miller
Institution:(1) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., 91109 Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract:Three of Zeno's objections to motion are answered by utilizing a version of nonstandard analysis, internal set theory, interpreted within an empirical context. Two of the objections are without force because they rely upon infinite sets, which always contain nonstandard real numbers. These numbers are devoid of lsquonumerical meaningrsquo, and thus one cannot render the judgment that an object is, in fact, located at a point in spacetime for which they would serve as coordinates. The third objection, lsquoan arrow never appears to be movingrsquo, is answered by showing that it only applies to a finite number of instants of time. A theory of motion is also advanced; it consists of a finite series of contiguous infinitesimal steps. The theory is immune to Zeno's first two objections because the number of steps is finite and each lies outside the domain of observation. lsquoPresent motionrsquo is hypothesized to be an unobservable process taking place within each step. The fact of motion is apparent through a summing (Riemann integration) of the steps.
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