[lit-ideas] Re: numbers
- From: palma <palma@xxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:05:46 -0400 (EDT)
what?
way to keep track?
pi?
On Tue, 26 Oct 2010, dsavory@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Robert asks, What is a number?
and I answer, numbers are a way to keep track of how many items we
have. Originally for counting it turned out they could also
be used for measuring how much we have and for dividing what we have into
fractions. Later still, numbers were used for
sequencing and coding. Now they are used to represent information. And I think
I should be pedantic and say there is a
difference between a number which is an abstract tally and a numeral which is
the notational sign that represents it.
Now what philosophical whammy are you going to lay on me?
David Savory
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palma
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Ratio, enim, nisi judex universalis esse deberet, frustra singulis datur.
[ _Quaestiones Naturales_, Adelard of Bath ]
Signora granda, testa che massa
massa ne passa, che quasi schissa,
Dia dei sostegni de cese e palassi
Dia de le taje che su ne tien fissi
Dia de le onde che le ne fa grassi,
ne ingrassa de ogni grassia, Dia Venessia -
aàh Venessia aàh Venàssia aàh Venùsia
Andrea Zanzotto, Filò, (Sezione: Recitativo Veneziano)
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