Forever Finite
The Case against Infinity
Forever Finite is a thorough philosophical exercise that muses through concepts of finitude and infinity.
Kip K. Sewell’s exhaustive philosophical text Forever Finite explores concepts of infinity with a critical eye.
Tackling the intractable problems of finitude and infinity, concepts that it notes lie beyond the limits of human conceptual ability, this book takes a number of approaches to its subject matter. It also pulls in a wealth of outside references and moves across various dimensions, examining notions of finity and infinity in relation to time, space, and the existence of entities. Its investigation is thus profound in its reach.
There are original and thought-provoking claims made in the course of this analysis, including in regards to the religious implications of finitude. The book goes beyond traditional philosophical arguments to address the spiritual significance of finite human existence—and the finite existence of God. Herein, however, theological arguments about God’s infinity are filed as figures of speech masquerading as philosophical conceits.
There are also detailed and provocative arguments forwarded about concepts of finity and infinity in Western philosophy: the book invokes the work of Immanuel Kant, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Thomas Aquinas in the course of its investigation. It also addresses mathematical and logical proofs against the concept of infinity at length. It ends up arguing that infinity as a concept should be rejected; its thesis is intriguing.
Though the text involves esoteric philosophical concepts, its terms and ideas are well explained and accessible. Its figures and diagrams are illuminating, as are its thorough bibliography and the helpful reviews that appear at the end of each chapter.
Nonetheless, the book includes tangled and extraneous discussions that detract from its central argument. There’s a digression into complaints about gender representation in standard texts, as well as an ongoing critique of mainstream academic ideas and procedures. These diversions muddle the book’s focus. And its delivery is further undone by issues of repetition: as it recycles firm declarations that the concept of infinity is logically untenable based on mathematical, theological, and commonsense arguments, the book becomes tedious; bold assertions that at first seemed masterful in their construction begin to blend together. Further, the large page format and standard-sized font result in an overwhelming amount of text on each page—a layout choice that casts an off-putting light on the challenging material.
Forever Finite is a thorough philosophical exercise that muses through concepts of finitude and infinity.
Reviewed by
Matt Benzing
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
