Hermeneutics of measurement

Abstract

The topic of our study is the structure of temporality for different acts and its consequences for a theory of measurement. To define the act of measurement, that differs from the act of doing an experiment, we begin by introducing two types of asymmetric acts, named <<parallel and complementary acts>>. Complementary asymmetric acts can be described with the acts of writing and reading. The act of writing is, from the point of view of time passing, directed towards the future, because it is intended to be read when the written text is finalized. In contrast, the act of reading is directed towards the past, for it will transpire after the act of writing. Thus, the asymmetric acts of writing and reading occur in an inverse order in respect to the flow of time and attract each other as two magnetic poles. We denote this phenomenon as the <<polarization of human acts>>. Parallel acts differ from complementary acts by not sharing the same referent object. Each parallel act presents their own object. For instance, [John brings Mary a bouquet of flowers] and [Mary is grateful and sends a book to John] are two parallel acts. The first act is polarized towards the future, while the second act is polarized towards the past. However, the two polarizations meet in the present by excess or by default. If the act polarized to the past prevails, we reach an approximation to the present by default. In parallel acts the objects must be operationally compatible with each other. For example, we cannot empty a lake with a bucket because the lake and the bucket are not operationally compatible. Going back to the first example, the flowers and the book are operationally compatible objects and therefore, the polarization towards the present is possible.

The act of measurement falls under the category of parallel acts and should be understood as a minute comparison of the same variable present in two different items or substances. The measurement process should not be confused with the act of doing an experiment. An experiment is a comparison of two states of the same item or substance and falls under the category of complementary acts. In this article, we explore the polarizations of human objects, the measurement of tiny objects and the measurement of natural and cultural sciences.