Eternity vs Infinity
Eternity and infinity are concepts that are taught to us in schools, but we rarely pay attention to them to understand their differences. While infinity is something that cannot be expressed or measured in units or measurement, eternity is something that is present at all times, something that has no end or beginning. However, despite there being many similarities in the two concepts, there are still differences that need to be highlighted to enable readers to differentiate between these concepts and to use them correctly.
Eternity
Something that is forever is said to be for an eternity. The concept is temporal in nature and applies to morals or right concepts that are believed to be timeless such as honesty and integrity. The concept of soul exemplifies an eternity where death signifies an end of the journey for the physical body of a man. Religion tries to emphasize upon good deeds of a man saying they ensure his name lives for an eternity. Thus, it becomes clear that eternity refers to timelessness or forever, depending upon what angle one chooses to look at the concept. The concept of God as the creator of the universes is for an eternity. This means that this is a timeless concept. The universal symbol of eternity is a snake trying to swallow its own tail (Ouroboros). Circle is also sometimes used as a symbol of eternity.
Infinity
When something is in a quantity that cannot be counted or measured, it is believed to be infinity. Anything that has no limits is obviously infinite in nature. Infinity is a concept that is used frequently in the subjects of math and physics to refer to a number that is not real. If one tries to create a set of real numbers, he fails miserably as real numbers go on and on for an infinity making such a set too large and not possible at all. Ancient Indian math called Vedic math says that taking something off infinity or adding something to infinity does not change infinity at all and it remains infinity in both situations. Though the concept of infinity has been there since ancient times, its symbol was introduced to the world by John Wallis in the year 1655.
What is the difference between Eternity and Infinity?
• Eternity is a concept that is temporal in nature and applies to things that are timeless.
• Infinity is a concept that applies to things that cannot be counted or measured.
• Religion and philosophy make heavy use of the concept of eternity whereas infinity is used more often in math and physics.
• The concept of God and virtues of honesty and integrity reflect eternity whereas stars and flowers reflect the concept of infinity.
• There is neither a beginning nor an end to eternity.
• Eternity relates with time whereas infinity relates with many dimensions.