3 ms·
Arguably, number came from money. Not just the counting, but the generalization/fungibility - money can be exchanged for anything (unlike barter); number can re
by hyperpallium2 5y ago
Arguably, number came from money. Not just the counting, but the generalization/fungibility - money can be exchanged for anything (unlike barter); number can represent a quantity of anything.
Trade and money have more direct survival advantages than number, an evolutionary gradient for improving the cognitive capacity supporting this generalization
- mrfox321 5y agoShouldn't language predate money? Language or cave paintings or whatever, use discrete symbols to describe physical reality
- hyperpallium2 5y agoInteresting! You can have 1:1 between symbols and objects, i.e. without generalization. Sidenote: the oldest writing found (so far) is of accounting...