Nothing
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- This article is on the abstract meaning of nothing. For alternate meanings, see Nothing (disambiguation)
Nothing is the lack or absence of anything. "Nothing" and "zero" are closely related but not identical concepts. The term "nothing" is rarely used mathematically, though it could be said that a set contains nothing if and only if it is the empty set, in which case its cardinality (or size) is zero. Nothing differs from zero in the way that zero is something, a finite amount which is defined. While nothing overlaps the quantity zero, in the way that it also is, when finitely defined, zero, it differs in the way that it has no specific basis like zero does in numbers.
If looked at philosophically, the concept of "nothing" can have many interpretations. In fact, people can even state that nothing does not exist. You cannot sense, see, feel, or think nothing. There is no contact with nothing. Nothing is where everything isn't. Visualizing "nothing" would make "something". It could be seen as a physical void or as just a word which only has meaning when used to describe a relationship between different "somethings". There is no "right" or "wrong" in the interpretation of the word "nothing". Everyone is entitled to their own ideas and interpretations.
The concept of "nothing" has been studied throughout history by philosophers and theologians; many have found that careful consideration of the notion can easily lead to the logical fallacy of reification. The understanding of "nothing" varies widely between cultures, especially between Western and Eastern cultures and philosophical traditions, though existentialism, and in particular Heidegger have brought the understandings closer together.
Informally, a person, event or object might be said to be nothing if particularly unimpressive.
Quotes
- "Nothing is too wonderful to be true."
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What is greater than God,
More evil than the Devil,
The poor have it,
The rich need it,
And if you eat it, you'll die?
Nothing.- — popular riddle which appeared in an email chain letter as well as The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands by Stephen King.