Ted Wong, "Why Quantify?" September 8, 2003

1. Scientists want to build theories about nature.

2. They want these theories to be testable--that is, to describe and predict phenomena.
3. Descriptions and predictions must be numerical to be general and practical.
4. Measurement mediates between scientists and nature,

   But measurement isn't transparent:

   • Measurement inserts at least one exra process.
   • Numbers have their own structure
     • meristic vs. continuous
     • linear is not the only number line.

   How does measurement drive and constrain theory-building? How do numbers?

   

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