University of Oxford professor Adrian Moore explores the philosophical, mathematical and cultural history of the infinite through two and a half millennia.

In this first of two episodes, Adrian discovers why the Ancient Greeks abhorred the notion of infinity and introduces us to the Greek philosopher, Aristotle. He describes how the church attempted to stamp its authority on the debate and how that led to some explosive disagreements amongst medieval thinkers, before bringing us to the verge of the modern world and the way we think now.

Having looked at the infinite in philosophical and theological terms, Adrian then views it through the lens of mathematics, considering the pivotal role mathematics has played in the quest to understand the infinite.

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4. Show less