How does science and architecture work without the metric system?

Question

Do architects scientists etc. of Britain and the US actually use the imperial system? Thats hard to believe. How did people do science and developing before the metric system was invented? I cant imagine that because the imperial system which is still used in the States and Britain is so stupid.

Answer 1

Any system of measurement is a subjective standard which has no real effect on the task at hand (apart from delivering results in different units from another system). And while the Imperial system came about more, shall we say, organically than the metric system's interlocking definitions of units, it's still a perfectly usable system. That you can't imagine using it says more about your inability to speculate beyond familar territory, than about the usefullness of one system over the other.

Answer 2

Wayyyy before the 19th centrury, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Lombards, the Normans, the Gauls, the Italians, the Britons, the Scots, the Spaniards, the far east nations (India, China, Japan, etc.) all performed great feats of architecture and science without use of the metric system.

Even during the 19th century great discoveries in science were made without the metric system.

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Answer 3

I agree that English units are bad. But to say that you can't use them is not correct. Conversions are not as obvious, but they are used the same way.