On 2011/06/04, at 22:32 , Kilopascal wrote: > I wonder if John Wilkins truly invented the metric system of if he was aware > of the pre-Norman decimal system and he only tried to recreate it. What do > you think? If true it can show that the "metric system" has roots dating > into antiquity and isn't just 200 years old. The only difference between the > modern metric system and the older one is the clever use of unit prefixes to > replace the list of names.
Bishop John Wilkins was not particularly committed to decimal divisions for his "universal measure" in 1668. See http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/CommentaryOnWilkinsOfMeasure.pdf where he wrote: But because general custom hath already agreed upon the decimal way, therefore I shall not insist upon the change of it. Decimal numbers had become popular in Europe following Simon Stevin's 'De Thiende' (Of Tenths) in 1585. They became particularly popular in England when Simon Stevin's book was translated into English by Robert Norton in 1608 as: 'Disme: The art of tenths — or Decimall Arithmetike'. So Wilkins conceded that decimal numbers were already successful when he invented the "universal measure" that became the decimal metric system in France 120 years or so later. However, having said that, Wilkins would also have been well aware of the various decimal measuring divisions used in the Bible and he may have been influenced by these. The real drivers for a "decimal" metric system were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson who had experienced a paradigm shift to decimal arithmetic when, as young men, they realised the ease of measurement and calculation using the English Gunter's Chain, which had 100 links to a chain. This was the decimal commitment that Thomas Jefferson took to France as Ambassador from 1785 to 1789 that I think profoundly influenced the philosophes there. Jefferson also had a score on the board as he and Washington had successfully committed the USA to decimal currency with the practical help of Benjamin Franklin. Of the three parts of the "decimal metric system", the "decimal" part was directly from the USA; the "metric" and the word, "metre" were from the Italian word, metro, when Burattini translated Wilkins "universal measure" into "metro cattolico" in 1675; and the third part was essentially the "system" invented by Bishop John Wilkins. The French contribution was to gather these three components together and to develop them into a form that could be made legal for France in 1795. Cheers, Pat Naughtin Geelong, Australia Pat Naughtin LCAMS Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY PO Box 305 Belmont 3216, Geelong, Australia Phone: 61 3 5241 2008 Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe.
