"Why is there measurement?"

Why is there measurement? Many people consider that as one of the many self-evident questions and need no explanation but they are often a challenge to answer. I think it is sometimes helpful to ask these plain queries and dig right onto them. Well my “why is there measurement” turned up this morning.

The thought of the upcoming actual driving test woke me up. I noticed annoyance emerging then hanged around, and in less than a minute, passed away. So I asked myself why this irritation for the test? In brief (I’m still in bed), I ended with: (1.) That my annoyance came from pride; I have been driving since the 80s with no moving violation record (I have an expired New Jersey and a valid Philippines DL IDs), but I haven’t driven in the USA for a long while. (2.) A readiness to comply with California DMV’s actual driving test. (3.) Besides social agencies’ demand to gauge or assess and compute roles to ensure security or peace and order of the society, among other things, why do we measure? Or why is there measurement?

Apparent reasons of measurements are furthered by moneytization so that even essentially free resources such as water and air -- because they are flowing, transient, ephemeral, or impermanent -- are accessed, packaged, and commercially sold to those who can afford to buy them. Learning, caring for the young and the elderly, the sick, illness and disease, health, or death are treated as market-profit opportunities. Lovers, couples, families, friends, and neighbors interpret and determine love or respect through convenience, subservience, control, or access to power/resources. One way to deal with problems mentioned or certain issues on what should government or business corporations should do or not do, is to ask “why is there measurement?, “why is there government?” or “what is the fundamental purpose of law?, “why is there air?” or “why is there water?”, “why is there an economy?” or “why is there a nation?” Try it. Discuss it with other people, especially. You’ll find out that what looks self-evident doesn’t stand up to close inspection.

Indeed, without knowledge of dimension, size, quantity, amount, extent, depth, width, breadth, length, weight, volume, area, magnitude, height, and so on of things and phenomena -- we would not be enjoying the comfort brought by the new science and technology as well as some understanding of and that better our selves and relationships, others, and our world.

Indeed, to reflect on “why is there measurement?” questions keep us from getting diverted or lost in details or confused in translations.