Book

Oneindigheid, Een filosofische gids

The infinite is endlessly fascinating. As finite beings, we will never be able to fully grasp the infinite. Yet the topic keeps resurfacing in philosophy – apparently, we cannot escape it either. Philosopher Victor Gijsbers guides the reader through the most important questions about the infinite in mathematics, nature, reality, and human life. The book is in Dutch.

Author

Victor Gijsbers

Date

29 September 2025

Philosophers on infinity

Through Aristotle, Descartes, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein, we learn how humans have tried to tame the infinite, or instead placed it above themselves as God. At the end of the journey, we arrive at Kant, who saw the finite human as the measurer of reality – but a measurer with a task he can never complete. By reflecting on infinity, we see both the most inspiring and the most tragic aspects of humanity.

Understanding the infinite may never succeed – but trying is irresistible.

Victor Gijsbers (1982) studied physics and philosophy in Utrecht and works as a philosopher at Leiden University. He previously published a translation of Wittgenstein's Tractatus with Boom.

Text: Boom