FOM: (no subject)

[Kanovei]

>Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 22:11:42 +0100
From: Paul LEVY <levy at pps.jussieu.fr>

>But of course it is obaz that is mathematically more natural

[obaz = counting begins with 0 rather than with 1] 

This depends on what and how you count. 
One never says considet a triangle A_0A_1A_2, but always 
A_1A_2A_3. 
As we consider counting intervals of the time line, the 
following example shows that you are wrong. 
Observation: the first interval of infinite ordinals begins 
with Aleph_0 and till Aleph_1, those ordinals are called 
first type (or class, whatever) ordinal numbers by Cantor. 
See the pattern: interval number n is between timepoint number 
(n-1) and timepoint number n, 
in particular, first interval between timepoints 0 and 1. 
Similarly, the first year AD is between the timepoint 
t=0 and timepoint t=1 (year). 
This excellently agrees with both mathematics and social 
practice. 

V.Kanovei