Re: EU abandons plans to force metricity on the UK


"John of Aix" <j.murphy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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onlyme wrote:
"John of Aix" <j.murphy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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The multiples and fractions are arrived at by adding zeroes or
moving a point, always the same type of calcualtion in any direction
and between units.

Now tell me what is logical about 12 inches in a foot, three feet in
a yard, 1760 yards in a mile, 16 ounces in a pound, 14 pounds in a
stone, 2240 pounds in a tonne. I can't see much logic there can you?



No there is no logic...only progression and familiarity.

Quite, the metric system is more logical as I said.

There is no logic in 10, 20, 30, 100, 1000 either.....only
progression, repitition and familiarity.

It all looks like multiples of ten to me. That seems logical enough.

A concept does not suddenly become more logical....just because it
became easier to understand.

Indeed but this is easy to understand because it is logical, not the
other way round.




Here are some quick definitions for 'logical'

a.. adjective: capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and
valid reasoning (Example: "A logical mind")
a.. adjective: based on known statements or events or conditions (Example:
"Rain was a logical expectation, given the time of year")
a.. adjective: capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and
consistent manner
a.. adjective: in accordance with reason or logic (Example: "A logical
conclusion")
a.. adjective: marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent
relation of parts (Example: "A logical argument")

Which do you think pertain to our argument?
I'd say the third one was the most likely....or maybe the last.

HOWEVER....
I know that there are 16 ounces in a pound...14 pounds in a stone......this
seems perfectly 'logical ...to *me*
It is also consistant....there are always 16 ounces in a pound etc...
It is also orderly...using base 16 and base 14 respectively.

I agree, the metric system also fits all this criteria....so it *seems* that
that must be 'logical' too....if we are using these definitions.
I'll go as far as to suggest that the metric system might even compliment
other systems....
i.e. I need to know how many pounds there are in 10 stone....I just add a
zero to the 14

So, either both systems are logical...or they merely seem logical...due to
our familiarity with these systems.....

You stated that the metric system was logical....and implied that the
imperial system was not.
Given the above......your statement was in itself quite illogical captain!

From our perspective..both systems can be seen to be 'logical'

A truer test ....would be how logical they both appeared .....to people with
no knowlege of our systems.

I came across this...
http://scitsc.wlv.ac.uk/university/scit/modules/mm2217/ocm.htm

It's interesting to note that some tribes (who must be operating at the most
basic levels of logic and reasoning)...use systems that are not that
dissimilar to the binary systems used by computers.
And you cannot get more logical than that!


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