Introduction
The ARROW PARADOX is a part of paradoxes set forth by Zeno Of Elea. Zeno was nearly 40 years old when Socrates was a young man, say 20. Since Socrates was born in 469 BC we can estimate a birth date for Zeno around 490 BC. Of all his work of paradoxes the ARROW PARADOX is considered to be complex. Well understanding and solving the more complex problems of universe is what mathematics aim at.
The ARROW PARADOX is a part of paradoxes set forth by Zeno Of Elea. Zeno was nearly 40 years old when Socrates was a young man, say 20. Since Socrates was born in 469 BC we can estimate a birth date for Zeno around 490 BC. Of all his work of paradoxes the ARROW PARADOX is considered to be complex. Well understanding and solving the more complex problems of universe is what mathematics aim at.
ZENO argues that an arrow in flight is always at rest. At any given instant, he claims, the arrow is where it is, occupying a portion of space equal to itself. During the instant it cannot move, for that would require the instant to have parts, and an instant is by definition a minimal and indivisible element of time. If the arrow did move during the instant it would have to be in one place at one part of the instant, and in a different place at another part of the instant. Moreover, for the arrow to move during the instant would require that during the instant it must occupy a space larger than itself, for otherwise it has no room to move. As Zeno says, "It is never moving, but in some miraculous way the change of position has to occur between the instants, that is to say, not at any time whatever".
ZENO argues that an arrow in flight is always at rest. At any given instant, he claims, the arrow is where it is, occupying a portion of space equal to itself. During the instant it cannot move, for that would require the instant to have parts, and an instant is by definition a minimal and indivisible element of time. If the arrow did move during the instant it would have to be in one place at one part of the instant, and in a different place at another part of the instant. Moreover, for the arrow to move during the instant would require that during the instant it must occupy a space larger than itself, for otherwise it has no room to move. As Zeno says, "It is never moving, but in some miraculous way the change of position has to occur between the instants, that is to say, not at any time whatever".