Eternity
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Eternity in common parlance is either an infinite or an indeterminately long period of time. In classical philosophy, however, eternity is defined as what exists outside time while sempiternity is the concept that corresponds to the colloquial definition of eternity.
Eternity is an important concept in many religions, where the God or the gods are said to endure eternally. Some, such as Aristotle, would say the same about the natural cosmos in regard to both past and future eternal duration, and like the eternal Platonic forms, immutability was considered essential.[1]
Philosophy
Aristotle argued that the cosmos has no beginning. In Aristotle's metaphysics, eternity is the unmoved mover (God), understood as the gradient of total synergy ("produces motion by being loved").[2] Boethius defined eternity as "simultaneously full and perfect possession of interminable life".[3]
Symbolism
Eternity is often symbolized by the image of a snake swallowing its own tail, known as the Ouroboros (or Uroboros). The circle is also commonly used as a symbol for eternity, as is the mathematical symbol of infinity, . [citation needed]
-
The Ouroboros. -
The "endless knot," a symbol of eternity used in Tibetan Buddhism. -
Infinity symbol variations.
See also
- Aeon
- Armenian eternity sign
- Chronology of the universe
- Eternalism (philosophy of time)
- Eternal return
- God and eternity
- Philosophical presentism
- Planck epoch
- Time perception
- Temporal finitism
References
- ^ "Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Eternity". Plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
- ^ Yu, Jiyuan The Structure of Being in Aristotle’s Metaphysics Springer, 2003, p. 188
- ^ Boedder, Bernard. "Natural Theology". University of Notre Dame. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
Aeternitas est interminablis vitae tota simul et perfecta possessio
External links
- http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/eternity/ Entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Eternity.
- http://www.iep.utm.edu/g/god-time.htm Entry in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the relationship between God and Time.
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