this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2024
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absolute scales are still arbitrary. you would probably want to use a scale that measures "perceived heat" which is different than average kinetic energy
Kelvin is just our word for it, but that is the point of “no heat”. It isn’t arbitrary, there is no “negative kelvin” just like you cannot make something colder than absolute zero.
So if you take the difference between “coldest possible temp” and “average summer temp”, then slice it in half, you’re getting temperatures that would kill most life on earth.
Just to nitpick, there are negative kelvins. I don't really understand it, myself, but I know it exists due to the specifics of how temperature is defined. Negative kelvins are actually extremely hot.
just because it has a reason doesn't make it not arbitrary. you can ultimately come up with a reason for all arbitrary decisions
Is there a way to distinguish between arbitrary and non-arbitrary? Or is literally everything ever arbitrary?
literally every definition ever is arbitrary
Then what's the point of even calling it arbitrary? If it covers everything, then there's no reason for the word.
that's not true. there are things that are not definitions. like my bed for instance, there are aspects that are arbitrary (my personal preferences, design choices, etc) and aspects that are not arbitrary (its physical form that exists beyond definition)
Do you not understand what the word arbitrary means?…
maybe you're the one who doesn't understand the ramifications of its meaning