Philosophical Origin and Journey of Zero

by Prof. Sudip Bhattacharyya (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, INDIA)

Tuesday Jun 23, 2026, 2:30 PM → 3:30 PM Europe/Rome

Dipartimento/1-1 - Sala Consiglio (Dipartimento)

The concept of the mathematical zero may have seemed incredibly impractical at its inception. Nevertheless, the contribution of this concept to human progress has been paramount. Unlike a placeholder or a reference point, the zero, which made a significant human progress possible, is an independent number with its mathematical operations defined. We will discuss its philosophical base, particularly its plausible origin from a notion of nonexistence. This philosophical base, as well as word-numerals and the prosody of Pingala, will be presented as examples of the evidence of the Indian origin of zero. Then, we will outline that zero's journey out of India somewhat separated its mathematical and philosophical aspects, with the former being more valued by some cultures and the latter by others. Finally, we will argue that considering zero as merely a convenient number without its underlying philosophical foundation may hinder a deeper understanding.

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