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Amount Quote by Jorge Luis Borges

“The people of Tlön are taught that the act of counting modifies the amount counted, turning indefinites into definites. The fact that several persons counting the same quantity come to the same result is for the psychologists of Tlön an example of the association of ideas or of memorization.” quote by Jorge Luis Borges
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“The people of Tlön are taught that the act of counting modifies the amount counted, turning indefinites into definites. The fact that several persons counting the same quantity come to the same result is for the psychologists of Tlön an example of the association of ideas or of memorization.”

Jorge Luis Borges

About This Quote

Source Short Story: Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius, 1940

Counting changes reality; shared measurement creates consensus, illustrating how ideas become concrete.

In simple terms: Counting shapes perception; shared ideas become reality.

Key Takeaway

Question how measurement influences truth.

Themes

philosophy epistemology language

Mood

thoughtful analytical curious

Type

philosophical academic

When to use this quote

  • science
  • education
  • data analysis

Key Concepts

cognitive science social constructivism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does language shape what we count?
  • Can consensus be misleading?
A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex phenomena.

3.8 out of 5 (10 ratings)

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