Abstract paths
How would you explain a month to an alien?
Abstractions, like paths, bridge all our stories. Some are so ubiquitous in our lives, they seem universal. Take time and price units. How would you explain what’s a day to an alien?
Fungible measurements (Quanta) are one the most interesting kind of abstractions. They are world-connectors. They introduce Harry Potter characters to Lord of the Rings ones.
Quanta have a simple structure. They work with induction: every unit is like the next. They map apples and oranges.
It’s not a coincidence that empirical science was developed in the objective language of measurement.
Units are one of the oldest ideas. We can easily compare the value of a home sale in London and the latest tuna auction in Tokyo, like we compare one day in our experience, one day in Harry Potter, or one day in the Bible.
Onwards,
David