Introduction

Abstract

When measuring some attribute of a class of objects or events, numbers are associated with the objects in such a way that the properties of the attribute are faithfully represented as numerical properties. This chapter highlights various systems of formal properties of attributes that lead to measurement in this sense. Some commentators on physical measurement have claimed that an attribute should exhibit a more or less unique set of formal properties for it to have a fundamental measure—one that does not require the prior measurement of other quantities. For example, length can be measured fundamentally, whereas density = mass/volume depends on the prior measurement of mass and volume. The intuitive distinction between fundamental and other sorts of measurement is an elusive, but whatever it is, it is wrong to think that there is only one fundamental system of properties adequate to lead to numerical measurement.