Less or More. Evolution of the concept of measurement and its precision

The measurement problem can be considered as exemplary of the evolution of science and thought over the centuries. If the measuring of space means to assign numbers and symbols to describe its properties, it is evident that the measurement problem cannot be separated from the perception and meaning attributed to the surrounding world. For modern man, space is an accessible reality, homogeneous and measurable; for ancient man, it is a rugged terrain, uneven and symbolic. Not surprisingly, primitive measuring had a significant nature, expressing something human, symbolic, tied to the anthropomorphic characteristics or conditions of life and work. On the contrary the meter, modern unit of measurement, is connected to the dimensions of the terrestrial sphere and is devoid of further meanings or references in addition to that of a unit of measurement. The procedures and results of measurements depend on the philosophical, economic, political and cultural context in which the operations are carried out and the conclusions reached. The language adopted from the respective communities to represent the whole of knowledge are valid in a particular historical moment, and change over time in relation to the cultural and social climate, as well as the techniques used to measure and represent reality. Even the concept of measuring precision depends on the historical period, not only for the obvious evolution of tools and measurement techniques, but also for the evolution of thought and creation of a suitable language to express the results.