A Comparative Analysis of Western and Indian Concept of Infinity in Mathematics

Despite being a basic mathematical concept, the meaning and application of infinity have changed over time. This essay examines the philosophical foundations and mathematical developments of both Indian and Western ideas of infinity. Infinity in the Western tradition developed from early Greek arguments and paradoxes into a formal, logical approach through transfinite numbers and set theory, especially in George Cantor's writings. Formal proof, accuracy, and logical structure were highly valued in Western mathematics. In contrast to a rigidly formal approach, Indian philosophy adopted a more intuitive perspective on infinity, utilizing ideas such as an-ant (endlessness) and zero (void). They linked the concept of infinity to cosmology and the vast, cyclical nature of time and space rather than just mathematics.