What is the opposite of 'nothing'?

[Qoeleth]

Would the opposite of 'nothing' be 'something' or 'everything'?

In favour of the second option, it seems like 'everything' is on the opposite end of the scale of 'quantity of thing-ness'.

Yet, on the other hand, if using the term in normal speech, it would seem that 'something' would be more likely to be used to express the opposite case ("There's something", in opposition to "there's nothing.")

A related question is that of the opposite of 'zero'. Now, if the opposite of a number is its negative (e.g. the oposite of 4 is -4), then, does it follow that the opposite of 0 is -0 (i.e. 0). Or, is "infinity" the opposite of "zero"?

[Poseidon]

I don't think that you can really say that there is one particular opposite for nothing. Not everything has a particular opposite. For example, what is the opposite of an old woman? An old man? Or maybe a young boy? How about an old woman made of antimatter? What about nothing, since an old woman is definitely something and the opposite of something is possible nothing.

So I don't think your question really has an answer.

[Rhuarc]

Everything and the only "thing" that is everything is God.

The opposite of nothing is God.

[JohnAlexander]

How do you define the word opposite?

[meltzerboy]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

I don't think that you can really say that there is one particular opposite for nothing. Not everything has a particular opposite. For example, what is the opposite of an old woman? An old man? Or maybe a young boy? How about an old woman made of antimatter? What about nothing, since an old woman is definitely something and the opposite of something is possible nothing.

So I don't think your question really has an answer.

Does the question not have an answer, or not have one answer but several? Perhaps it does not have one best answer.

A parallel example: what is the opposite of life? Many would say death. On the other hand, death may be regarded as the opposite of birth. Perhaps life has no opposite.

[edward_george]

I would say that there isn't an opposite of nothing because "nothing" is not a separate positive reality from "something." It is a term we use to speak of things by degrees; there can never be exactly nothing--only a greater or lesser degree of something. Just as cold and hot are not separate positive realities from one another, and neither are light and dark, all the same--whenever there was something, and it is removed, it is not as though nothing floods in in its place.

-ACEGC

[LegoGE1947]

Originally Posted by edward_george

I would say that there isn't an opposite of nothing because "nothing" is not a separate positive reality from "something." It is a term we use to speak of things by degrees; there can never be exactly nothing--only a greater or lesser degree of something. Just as cold and hot are not separate positive realities from one another, and neither are light and dark, all the same--whenever there was something, and it is removed, it is not as though nothing floods in in its place.

-ACEGC

Everything is Everything

[Qoeleth]

Hmm. If God is the opposite of nothing, and I make a statement "There is nothing in the box", is the opposite statement then "There is God in the box"?


And what of zero. If the opposite of 7 is -7, then does it follow that the opposite of 0 is -0 (i.e. 0)?

[meltzerboy]

Originally Posted by Qoeleth

Hmm. If God is the opposite of nothing, and I make a statement "There is nothing in the box", is the opposite statement then "There is God in the box"?


And what of zero. If the opposite of 7 is -7, then does it follow that the opposite of 0 is -0 (i.e. 0)?

While one may believe that G-d is omnipresent, one need not therefore believe in a pantheistic god. G-d and the universe, nature, human beings, animals are not necessarily one and the same. Many Christians express the sentiment that G-d is Love; however, Jews refrain from this expression since they believe that G-d cannot be crystallized into any one feature or composite of features, no matter how noble.

[Gods_Peace]

The opposite of being nothing is being something.
I believe you are talking about being unfulfilled and fulfilled.

[Gods_Peace]

Originally Posted by Qoeleth

Hmm. If God is the opposite of nothing, and I make a statement "There is nothing in the box", is the opposite statement then "There is God in the box"?


And what of zero. If the opposite of 7 is -7, then does it follow that the opposite of 0 is -0 (i.e. 0)?

the opposite of zero is 1. I saved lazy mathematicians a couple of years, seeing holy things make your knowledge grow fruitful in numerous ways.......

[ConstantineTG]

THING

And SOMETHING is between THING and NOTHING

[meltzerboy]

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

THING

And SOMETHING is between THING and NOTHING

"The Thing" was a classic sci-fi thriller (the original one) starring James Arness.

[Gods_Peace]

Originally Posted by meltzerboy

While one may believe that G-d is omnipresent, one need not therefore believe in a pantheistic god. G-d and the universe, nature, human beings, animals are not necessarily one and the same. Many Christians express the sentiment that G-d is Love; however, Jews refrain from this expression since they believe that G-d cannot be crystallized into any one feature or composite of features, no matter how noble.

The Expression of perfect Love and Perfect Love itself is no different, They are just in two different stages and States of Being. Both are the same, and Both are perfect, and only God is Perfect, so Love is clothed with a very specific likeness and verifiability with Gods attribute of Perfection (Holiness). And I have many reasons to believe, more then anything else, that Gods Word is filled with this Fruitful and Perfect Love. Loves splendor is so great because it is through this process that the ONE TRUE HOLY TRINITY COULD CREATE EVERYTHING IN ALL GOODNESS, AND A CREATURE AS BLESSED AS THE Virgin Mary.

[Katholish]

The opposite (i.e the contrary) of nothing is everything.