World in the Balance
The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
Published on 24. October 2011
320 pages
978-0-393-08204-3 (ISBN)
Description
The epic story of the invention of a global network of weights, scales, and instruments for measurement.
Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. This network has been called a greater invention than the steam engine, comparable only to the development of the printing press.Robert P. Crease traces the evolution of this international system from the use of flutes to measure distance in the dynasties of ancient China and figurines to weigh gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems. The former prevailed, with the United States one of three holdout nations. Into this captivating history Crease weaves stories of colorful individuals, including Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of the metric system, and American philosopher Charles S. Peirce, the first to tie the meter to the wavelength of light. Tracing the dynamic struggle for ultimate precision, World in the Balance demonstrates that measurement is both stranger and more integral to our lives than we ever suspected.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
Windows
Illustrations
35 black-and-white illustrations
ISBN-13
978-0-393-08204-3 (9780393082043)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
11/2012
WW Norton & Co
€17.50
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Book
10/2011
WW Norton & Co
€43.55
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Person
Robert P. Crease is the chairman of the philosophy department at Stony Brook University and the author of several books on science, including The Quantum Moment and The Great Equations. He lives in New York City.
Content
- Intro
- Also By
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction: The Noonday Cannon
- Chapter One: Vitruvian Man
- Chapter Two: Ancient China: Feet and Flutes
- Chapter Three: West Africa: Gold Weights
- Chapter Four: France: "Realities of Life and Labor
- Chapter Five: Halting Steps Toward Universality
- Chapter Six: "One of the Greatest Triumphs of Modern Civilizations
- Chapter Seven: Metrophilia and Metrophobia
- Chapter Eight: Surely You're Joking, Mr. Duchamp!
- Chapter Nine: Dreams of a Final Standard
- Chapter Ten: Universal System: The SI
- Chapter Eleven: The Modern Metroscape
- Chapter Twelve: Au Revoir, Kilogram
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Illustration Credits
- Index
- About the Author
- Praise for World in the Balance
- Copyright
