Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea

“Zero is powerful because it is infinity’s twin. They are equal and opposite, yin and yang. They are equally paradoxical and troubling.”

Seife emphasizes from the beginning The Dualism of Zero and Infinity: The concepts are inseparable. He also imparts a mystical aura to zero and infinity by alluding to the famous yin and yang symbols of Chinese philosophy.

“The biggest questions in science and religion are about nothingness and eternity, the void and the infinite, zero and infinity. The clashes over zero were the battles that shook the foundations of philosophy, of science, of mathematics, of religion. Underneath every revolution lay a zero—and an infinity.”

Seife emphasizes the importance of zero across all human disciplines and areas of inquiry. He also emphasizes that zero was a matter of contention that constantly destabilized human thought.

“Yet through all its history, despite the rejection and the exile, zero has always defeated those who opposed it. Humanity could never force zero to fit its philosophies. Instead, zero shaped humanity’s view of the universe—and of God.”

Seife depicts zero as an agent in its own right and suggests that it is like a supernatural messenger or holy book imparting transcendental truths, introducing the idea of The Revelation of Zero. Any human thought might be matched by another human thought, and many human ideas can be adjusted to fit into new philosophies, but zero’s invincibility and uncompromising strangeness make it special, Seife suggests.