[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >In a message dated Sat, 26 Jan 2002 7:34:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, >"Alberto Monteiro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > > Hmmm.... IIRC, I read somewhere [and probably more than 20 years > > ago] that the human mind does not understand instinctively any number > > above 2. > >I read most of a book "Where Does Mathematics Come From" about 6 months >ago. I think the number that is instinctive is 4. Animals can make it to >about the same number.
"From One to Zero" had the number as either 4 or 5; distinguishing 5 and 6 grouped lines is hard. This is given as a hypothesis for the reason nearly all early counting systems use something like I, II, III, IIII, N, NI, NII, NIII, NIIII, X. (N and V are common proto-numerals for 5, showing up in several cultures apparently independently. X is very common for 10 in many cultures as well, not just those pesky Romans.) Joshua _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
