yeah, a duodecimal metric system would have been better. Still, it’s more important to have a standard system than it is for it to be ideal. It’s the strongest argument for US customary system within the USA, as well - but that argument breaks down when you widen the scope to the world.
In the 18th century context, and its dozens of competing measurement systems, something like the metric system was sorely needed just for standardization. We’re just lucky that it was something more or less sensible. Had the US customary system won out, I think we’d be objectively worse off.
So it could have been better, but it could also have been MUCH much much worse.
yeah, a duodecimal metric system would have been better. Still, it’s more important to have a standard system than it is for it to be ideal. It’s the strongest argument for US customary system within the USA, as well - but that argument breaks down when you widen the scope to the world.
In the 18th century context, and its dozens of competing measurement systems, something like the metric system was sorely needed just for standardization. We’re just lucky that it was something more or less sensible. Had the US customary system won out, I think we’d be objectively worse off.
So it could have been better, but it could also have been MUCH much much worse.