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What's Not to Like?

theamericanscholar.org

21–26 of 26 posts

Re: What's Not to Like?

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point. If things exist in different "ontological categories" trying to evaluate which of them is "better" makes little sense. But apples and oranges are both good food, so we can compare how much calories you get forjm them, or vitamins etc.

I think oranges and citrus generally is a weird variable because it’s hard to grow outside of tropical climates or advanced techniques: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangery > In England, John Parkinson introduced the orangery to the readers of his Paradisus in Sole (1628), under the heading "Oranges". The trees might be planted against a brick wall and enclosed in winter with a plank shed covered with "cerecloth",…

Interesting caption from that next to last link that perhaps goes against my point but is relevant to apples versus oranges comparisons:

> 'Hesperides' by Giovanni Battista Ferrari published in Rome,1646. Its full title meaning 'Hesperides, or, On the cultivation and use of the golden apple' (golden apples referring to citrus fruit)

Re: What's Not to Like?

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

`kg of fuel per metre` is division, not comparison. You can divide different units by each other. It isn't guaranteed to always make sense but it's very useful.

The result of division of two numbers is a comparison of those numbers.

The root of good faith conversation is that we don't latch on fuzzy meanings of words like "comparison" but try to understand which precise meaning should apply.

The result of subtraction is a difference. In my mind this is the most basic way to compare things. Subtraction of differing units is illegal.

The result of division is a quotient (day to day we say ratio). Division of different units is legal but not always practical.

Re: What's Not to Like?

#23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The result of division of two numbers is a comparison of those numbers.

The root of good faith conversation is that we don't latch on fuzzy meanings of words like "comparison" but try to understand which precise meaning should apply. The result of subtraction is a difference. In my mind this is the most basic way to compare things. Subtraction of differing units is illegal. The result of division is a quotient (day to day we say ratio). Division of different units is legal but not always…

[deleted]

Re: What's Not to Like?

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

`kg of fuel per metre` is division, not comparison. You can divide different units by each other. It isn't guaranteed to always make sense but it's very useful.

The result of division of two numbers is a comparison of those numbers.

Re: your deleted apples and oranges comments;

These aren't pure dimensionless numbers, they come with units of measure attached.

If there's need for good scalar try: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_analysis for https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/dimensionless...

Re: What's Not to Like?

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The result of division of two numbers is a comparison of those numbers.

The number of apples divided by the kilogram of oranges I have is a meaningless comparison and makes no sense, though.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard a comparison that nonsensical…

Hey, wait a minute-

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