The argument for base 60 is that it's the smallest number that is divisible by the first 6 counting numbers (1,2,3,4,5,6). That makes for a really robust calculation system and easily expressible fractions. But this overlooks some of the messier realities. Crucially, this mathematical based argument glosses over the fact that there was no symbol for 0, no symbol denoting place value (like the decimal point) and the fact that the Egyptians divided day and night into 12 hours which is duodecimal. The inconsistency between the 2 articles lies in acceptance and emphasis of the divisibility of 60 as a plausible reason for its adoption as a number base. I agree that base 60 was likely not "chosen" as a base system. Ever since I learned how to count in binary, I started wondering if there was a world where we could've adopted a different base for everyday counting. In binary (base 2), our hands (assuming 10 fingers) can count up to 1023 just on our 2 hands alone.
I have also wondered why we do not observe decimal time. Since we would be using the same system to represent time as expressing it, it would make it easier to read fractional time (1h23m45s is 1 decimal hour, 23 decimal minutes, and 45 decimal seconds, or 1.2345 decimal hours). Perhaps subjectively, days would feel quite long, as 1 decimal hour would be ~2.4 sexigecimal hours which would be a radical shift from our current system.
When I think about a year, I don’t picture it as a straight line but more like a loop or a circle, with seasons marking the four quadrants (very roughly). A month, to me, feels more like a staircase, stepping upward day by day until the reset of the new month. An hour feels like a slice of a pie chart, and I often visualize it that way when planning tasks. Reading these articles made me realize that these mental images I rely on are not universal, but culturally and historically shaped by the timekeeping systems we’ve inherited.
This is a very strong and creative reflection. I like how you questioned the limitations of the base-60 explanation and brought in comparisons with binary and even imagined decimal time—this shows deep curiosity and originality. Your metaphors for how you visualize a year, month, and hour were also very engaging and added a personal dimension to your writing. To make it even stronger, you could briefly connect your ideas about alternative systems (binary, decimal time) back to why base 60 persisted historically—this would tie your creative exploration more closely to the readings.
ReplyDelete