WORLD IN THE BALANCE-Crease/History of Measurements/Metric System/NEW/HB/DJ/Illu

Description: Description: A riveting account of the development of standard units of measure for science and commerce, by an eloquent popular science writer. From the publisher’s blurb: “Millions of daily activities and transactions depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. This extraordinary network has been called a greater invention than the steam engine, comparable only to the development of the printing press. Philosopher and historian Robert P Crease tells the epic story of this network—how humans have been improvising ways of measurement since the dawn of civilization, and how these ways are about to be radically transformed. Once upon a time, measurement systems around the globe were as original and varied as artworks, political systems, and other forms of culture. In ancient China, imperial decrees connected the length measure and musical pitch; in West Africa, merchants measured out gold dust in elaborate social rituals using tiny sculptures. Yet within a short time, historically speaking—about two hundred years—virtually all these systems became consolidated into one universal system of measurement, adopted by nearly every country in the world. The vast sweep of the story ranges from dramatic tales of colonialism and revolution to surrealist ridicule and philosophical insight. We encounter strong-willed, far-sighted pioneers. Thomas Jefferson tried, unsuccessfully, to convert the United States to a decimal measurement system years before French revolutionaries succeeded in implementing the metric system in that country. Charles Sanders Peirce, America's most original and polymathic philosopher, was the first to tie a unit, the meter, to an absolute standard, the wave-length of light, opening the way to basing units on natural standards. Surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp mocked the metric system in a famous work now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, a new generation of scientists is on the verge of taking yet another step. Scientists are about to reorganize the world's measurement units—including length, weight, and time—in a way that will produce an absolute system of measurement. For the first time in history, if all basic standards were somehow lost, they could be recovered and the world could have exactly the same measurement standards as before. This book shows how that happened, and how the meaning of measurement has changed in the modern world—what it has gained and lost in the process. Entertaining, informative, and always lively, World in the Balance is a dazzling reminder that measurement is both stranger and more integral to our lives than we ever suspected.” About the Author: Robert P. Crease writes the "Critical Point" column for Physics World. He is the chairman of the philosophy department at Stony Brook University and the author of, among other books, The Great Equations. VISIT MY EBAY STORE FOR OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST(Click This Link) PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTS ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES Shipping: Free media rate shipping in US. International shipping as appropriate (See shipping and Payments tab on this listing page for further details). We make every attempt to describe items clearly and completely. Please read our listings carefully, inspect posted images of the item, and let us know if you have any questions before you bid. All buyers must pay according to Ebay policies. If you have any questions about this, please email me. International bidders should contact me for a quote on shipping before bidding. Whenever possible, international shipping will be via Ebay Standard International Delivery. Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

Price: 10 USD

Location: Riverside, Rhode Island

End Time: 2024-12-08T21:25:58.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD