define one?

Question

without using the word single or any synonyms of it. Also, steer clear of the word "individidual" since it's definition also involves knowing what single and one are.

I've asked several people around me and no one can define it clearly without getting trapped in the circle of one = single.

If you use any other numbers in your definition, than you're relying on the definition of one already being understood since all numbers or quantities higher than one are based on one.

you guys appear to be doing pretty awfully at this.

to answer someone to asked me the same question:

I've been struggling with this for a while,but the more I contemplate it, the more I think that there is no such thing as "one" or "singularity" because everything that you can lable as being "one" can be broken down into more parts. Even atoms. And the end is only as far as we can currently explore with the technology that we have.
In math, this is also true because you can divide one infiniately by fractions and never arrive at zero.
Therefore, I think that all things are infinite and our definition of "one" rests only on a combination of pieces that we can understand to be grouped together.
I try to examplify this with the idea of a chair, but I havn't worked it all out yet.

Answer 1

One is a part of more parts and stands by itself. An item of
many that becomes its own self.
Spartawo...

Answer 2

How one defines the word 'one' is dependant upon one's usage of 'one'.
Your question is assuming that one means only certain things in the first place; and is therefore misleading. It is also tricking our brains into being stuck in that type of rut of thinking of single, individual, the first number.

One: It is a unit.
One: It is a group of people united.

The word 'One' means many many things. It has different definitions also in different disciplines, such as chemistry, or in computers, with the binary code. Zeros and ones. Off and On.
Mostly, it means a thing that exists.
(I cannot define it as 'not zero', or 'not nothing' technically in a definition.)



See, there are at least 2 definitions here on the following website, dictionary, that do not involve the words you have disallowed: (nor do these definitions involve the ideas you have 'disallowed' in your definition)

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/one

ps. I find it rude of you to tell people that they are doing poorly, when they have taken the time to think about this, and to answer it.
Also, please check your own spelling and grammar! :P lol. I am joking around there, but I do find it amusing, because of your attitude to others, that you have mispelled words, and also used poor grammar.

Answer 3

Concepts can only exist relative to one another, and do not have any existence of their own accord. Neither do we.

What you seek for is not a definition, but the absence of one.

Remove "you" (self-concept) and all will be clear.

Still looking for a definition? 3-2=?, 4-3=?, 5-4=?

You are getting confused because you are confusing symbols (representations created to represent aspect of reality) with reality. They are not the same thing. (Most people think they are.)

Still want a definition? Get out a blank piece of paper and look at it until you don't see the paper relative to you, but you only see the paper.

Answer 4

Define any word with out using similar words or any words what so ever or any thing like. no wonder you cant get an answer its like asking some one to go swimming with out geting wet, or telling some one to start a fire without using anything combustable you might want to get a clue then ask your Q again. one is 3-2 or 10-9 or -3+4 or a single thing something all by it's self or all alone the only remaing thing of its kind in a given place or time, the last thing left. there is that a decient answer.

Answer 5

the first real number beyond zero...

it's also a state where people, places, things, events, and causes are not plural in some points bringing emphasis on that point. For example, the jury is by definition a bunch of people who pass judgment on court but they're referred to as one.

P.S. How would you answer this question anyway?

Answer 6

You might say "the same". No two things can be the same; something can only be the same as itself. So the same is by definition one.

Likewise, you might say "united". This highlights another aspect of "one" than singularity. Singularity highlights "one's" aspect of *uniqueness* and/or lonesomeness (in the literal, unemotional sense); unity highlights its solidity, its wholeness, its belonging-together (as opposed to apart, in pieces).

My entry in this competition:

"One: internally united and externally separate"

Answer 7

being a person, thing, or individual instance or member of a number, kind, group, or category indicated

existing, acting, or considered as a single unit, entity, or individual

of the same or having a single kind, nature, or condition

Answer 8

One is the most basic universal unit of measure to recognize something from or more than nothing.

Answer 9

Item. Object. Thing. (not numbers, but definitely not plural).
Now, how about trying to define "Word" without using any?

Answer 10

The integer designating the initial non negative, non null ordinal value in a series.