What is the time span between the past and the future?
Q: What is the time span between the past and the future?
A: The time span between the past and the future can be long or short, depending on what is being measured. It usually refers to the period of time between the present moment and a point in the future when a decision must be made.
Q: How does mathematics account for changes over time?
A: Mathematics assumes that all quantities used in an equation remain equal from start to finish. This is why algebra is sometimes referred to as "snapshot algebra" or "algebra of seeing." If any action or event were possible between steps in algebraic analysis, then one would have to start over without knowledge of any new states.
Q: What does General Semantics and E Prime suggest instead of using "to be"?
A: General Semantics and E Prime suggest replacing verbs like "to be" with words like equal, remain (for past until now) and become (for now into future). This helps emphasize that everything changes over time.
Q: How can statistics be questioned?
A: Statistics can be questioned when comparing numbers gathered in the past with numbers after key conditions have changed. This issue is explored in depth in Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics.
Q: What are some implications of snapshot algebra?
A: Snapshot algebra implies that if any action or event were possible between steps in an equation, then one would have to start over without knowledge of any new states. This has implications for statistics as well as knowledge management since it means that data collected at different points may not always accurately reflect current conditions.
Q: Why do General Semantics and E Prime replace verbs like “to be”?
A: General Semantics and E Prime replace verbs like “to be” because they emphasize that everything changes over time. By using words such as equal, remain (for past until now) and become (for now into future), these theories help acknowledge how things are constantly changing from one moment to another.
