Evaluating the Infinite

I present a novel mathematical technique for dealing with the infinities arising from divergent sums and integrals. It assigns them fine-grained infinite values from the set of hyperreal numbers in a manner that refines the standard theories of summation and integration. This has implications in statistics (helping us work with distributions whose mean or variance is infinite), decision theory (allowing comparison of options with infinite expected values), economics (allowing evaluation of infinitely long streams of utility without discounting), and ethics (allowing evaluation of infinite worlds). There are even implications for finite cases, as the ability to handle these infinities undermines a common argument for bounded utility and the discounting of future utility.

Publication Details

Journal
ArXiv.org
Published
2025-09-22
Primary Topic
Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
Type
article
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article

Evaluating the Infinite

ArXiv.org
Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
article

Evaluating the Infinite

article en

Abstract

I present a novel mathematical technique for dealing with the infinities arising from divergent sums and integrals. It assigns them fine-grained infinite values from the set of hyperreal numbers in a manner that refines the standard theories of summation and integration. This has implications in statistics (helping us work with distributions whose mean or variance is infinite), decision theory (allowing comparison of options with infinite expected values), economics (allowing evaluation of infinitely long streams of utility without discounting), and ethics (allowing evaluation of infinite worlds). There are even implications for finite cases, as the ability to handle these infinities undermines a common argument for bounded utility and the discounting of future utility.

ArXiv.org
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Openalex Percentile: Top 42%
Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
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Evaluating the Infinite · ArXiv.org (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS