The Problem with Quantification: An Existential Perspective on the Limits of Numerical Representation

Quantification has propelled civilisation and enabled significant advances in science, engineering, and the humanities. However, its success presents a philosophical challenge: the extension of quantification beyond the natural world into the domain of human existence. Here, quantification refers to the use of numbers or measurements to describe phenomena. Existential perspectives, by contrast, encompass lived experiences such as authenticity, consciousness, freedom, and intrinsic value. While q