tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19937890.post2268708933609106095..comments2023-10-15T08:15:46.205-04:00Comments on Mike's Eyes (Spotted By): Working and Observing by GrampaMichael Neibelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15321103608597264855noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19937890.post-61809785857050533222008-05-31T23:25:00.000-04:002008-05-31T23:25:00.000-04:00Kim:Thanks for the historical tip. I didn't know t...Kim:<BR/>Thanks for the historical tip. I didn't know that. It looks like such an error could be more common in early conceptual development than I had thought.Michael Neibelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321103608597264855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19937890.post-18811107637676583762008-05-30T21:44:00.000-04:002008-05-30T21:44:00.000-04:00I was just reading The Story of Science: Aristotle...I was just reading The Story of Science: Aristotle Leads the Way by Joy Hakim (recommended by Deb on a comment on my blog). The author points out that in ancient times the symbol for 6 bags of grain was an entirely different symbol from 6 pigs, for instance. The number written was specific the thing counted. It is a wonderful abstraction to realize that '6' means 6 of anything.tmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15797561656420404838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19937890.post-75177454768845922092008-05-30T16:16:00.000-04:002008-05-30T16:16:00.000-04:00Myrhaf:I think so since animals can only count to ...Myrhaf:<BR/>I think so since animals can only count to say a handful. They can't abstract the concept of quantity away from the objects they perceive. Only humans can do that. I would say that the act of counting is a process of abstraction.Michael Neibelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321103608597264855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19937890.post-63120096448159299442008-05-29T16:49:00.000-04:002008-05-29T16:49:00.000-04:00Fascinating observation! Can we infer from this th...Fascinating observation! Can we infer from this that counting is an abstraction?Myrhafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16340507405537605164noreply@blogger.com