Topics Mathematics

Question Does zero represent nothingness? kal

Accepted:
June 17, 2010

Comments

It might be a good idea to start with a distinction between words and things. The number zero, or 0, is one among an infinity of numbers, special though its algebraic properties may be. As such, it just is and doesn't represent anything. The numeral '0' typically represents the number 0, but doesn't usually represent nothingness, whatever exactly that is. If I write

7 - 7 = 0

I've written something true; if I write

7 - 7 = nothingness

I've written something peculiar and not obviously true at all.

People sometimes use the word "nothingness" in a way that's fraught with meaning - as in the Existential Void.The number 0 isn't that, and the numeral '0' doesn't normally represent it. That said, we have a very free hand in deciding what represents what. We can and do use '0' to represent all manner of things (or their absence). So whatever you have in mind by your use of the word "nothingness" we no doubt could use '0' to represent it. It's just that this would be something we decide to do as opposed to something that the usual meaning of the symbol dictates.

Question Does zero represent nothingness? kal Accepted:June 17, 2010

Question Does zero represent nothingness? kal

Accepted:
June 17, 2010