Looking for Those Natural Numbers: Dimensionless Constants and the Idea of Natural Measurement
Philip Mirowski
The Argument Many find it “notoriously difficult to see how societal context can affect in any essential way someone solves a mathematical problem or makes measurement.” That may be because has been habit of western scientists assert their numerical schemes were untainted by hint anthropomorphism. Nevertheless, that Platonist penchant always encountered obstacles practice, primarily the stability applied scheme requires some alien external warrant. This paper surveys history measurement standards, physical dimensions and dimensionless constants as one instance quest purge all anthropomorphic taint first metric system, then provided atom, intelligible extraterrestrials, only end up back at overt anthropomorphism late 20th century. suggests “naturalness” natural numbers conceptualized locally contingent cultural terms.
Science in Context