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Shaw by the Numbers

Shaw by the Numbers Gu S tavo a . RodRíGuez MaRtíN Every question may be conceived as capable of being reduced to a pure question of numbers. --auguste Comte, Cours de Philosophie Positive Numbers captivate our imagination because of their dual nature. They are the representation of the abstract concepts upon which a vast share of human knowledge rests. In addition, they are one of the most useful tools for the daily tasks of life ever since man's relationship with nature necessitated calculation. Regardless of pragmatic necessity, numbers have transcended mere arithmetic, hence their use as symbolic representations of spiritual, artistic, and emotional concepts. In this respect, they began to be assimilated into ceremonial rituals early in history, as they became progressively detached from the natural or the stochastic. Why we do something in synchronization on the count of three, why a boxer loses a bout after a count of ten, or why our weeks last exactly seven days, are contemporary remnants of the formulaic usage of numbers. This particular function of numerals and number words is nearly ubiquitous in all the cultures that have reached a certain stage in abstract thinking.1 What is more, there seems to be a handful of http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png SHAW The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies Penn State University Press

Shaw by the Numbers

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Publisher
Penn State University Press
Copyright
Copyright © The Pennsylvania State University.
ISSN
1529-1480
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Abstract

Gu S tavo a . RodRíGuez MaRtíN Every question may be conceived as capable of being reduced to a pure question of numbers. --auguste Comte, Cours de Philosophie Positive Numbers captivate our imagination because of their dual nature. They are the representation of the abstract concepts upon which a vast share of human knowledge rests. In addition, they are one of the most useful tools for the daily tasks of life ever since man's relationship with nature necessitated calculation. Regardless of pragmatic necessity, numbers have transcended mere arithmetic, hence their use as symbolic representations of spiritual, artistic, and emotional concepts. In this respect, they began to be assimilated into ceremonial rituals early in history, as they became progressively detached from the natural or the stochastic. Why we do something in synchronization on the count of three, why a boxer loses a bout after a count of ten, or why our weeks last exactly seven days, are contemporary remnants of the formulaic usage of numbers. This particular function of numerals and number words is nearly ubiquitous in all the cultures that have reached a certain stage in abstract thinking.1 What is more, there seems to be a handful of

Journal

SHAW The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies – Penn State University Press

Published: Sep 17, 2013

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