Nothing

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This article is on the abstract meaning of nothing. For alternate meanings, see Nothing (disambiguation)

Nothing is the lack or absence of anything (including empty area or a vacuum). Colloquially, however, the term is often used to describe a particularly unimpressive thing, event, or object.

Contents

1 Mathematics
2 Philosophy
3 Language
4 See also

Mathematics

The term "nothing" is rarely used mathematically, though it could be said that a set contains "nothing" if and only if it is the empty set, in which case its cardinality (or size) is zero. In other words, the word "nothing" is a colloquial term for an "empty set". "Nothing" and "zero" are closely related but not identical concepts, though, in common parlance, the word "nothing" can also mean "zero" which is a mathematic object that can, for example, symbolize a variable which is "lacking in value". This is why zero can be included in a set. Like "zero," the word "nothing" can symbolize the concept of "a lack of value". But as "nothing" is a linguistic term, it lacks any rigorous definition. Thus it can only be distinguished from context whether or not the word "nothing" represents what mathematicians would call an "empty set" (e.g. "There is nothing here"), or whether it represents what mathematicians would call a "zero" or a lack of value (e.g. "It is worth nothing"). This lack of rigorous definition can allow one to create statements which seem to be logical fallacies—If you have nothing except for nothing, do you have something or nothing?

Philosophy

From a philosophical point of view, the concept of "nothing" can have many interpretations. In fact, one can't even say that nothing does or does not exist. One cannot sense, see, feel, or think nothing. There is no contact with nothing. Nothing is where everything isn't. Visualizing "nothing" would make "something". It could be seen as a physical void or as just a word which only has meaning when used to describe a relationship between different "somethings". A single "correct" definition of nothing could be considered impossible, since "right" and "wrong" do not fit within the confines of nothing.

The concept of "nothing" has been studied throughout history by philosophers and theologians; many have found that careful consideration of the notion can easily lead to the logical fallacy of reification. The understanding of "nothing" varies widely between cultures, especially between Western and Eastern cultures and philosophical traditions. For instance, nothing is considered a state of mind in Buddhism (See nirvana, Mu, Enlightenment). Existentialism and Heidegger have brought these two understandings closer together.

"In a sense, 'nothing' is a word used in the English language to describe the realisation that something which is sought, conciously or unconciously, can not be detected by using reason, logic or observation using the physical senses. This does not denote the absence of that which is being sought, only that it cannot be observed or reasoned. The basis of all art is the act where the construct of 'nothing' is replaced with the creations of the imagination." - Thomas Mostert

Language

The label nothing gets perceived as either important or not-important depending on the actual system in which it is considered. Compare these two sentences in which nothing plays the central role: While traveling to the city nothing happened and so I arrived safely; while getting ready to pay I discovered that there was nothing in my wallet, and so I had to go wash the dishes. The confusion caused by nothing can also be seen in the joke below: Anything is better than nothing. anything is better than pure wine. Therefore,Nothing is better than pure wine.

Nothing

Mathematics

Philosophy

Language

See also