The invention of Zero

Summary

The invention of zero is a reflection of the philosophical differences between various civilizations, particularly highlighted by the contrasting worldviews of individual ownership and detachment as seen in the historical interaction between Alexander the Great and an Indian sage.

Abstract

The concept of zero, a cornerstone of modern mathematics, emerged from diverse cultural perspectives on existence, ownership, and the role of the individual. The article suggests that zero, representing nothingness, was independently conceived by civilizations like the ancient Egyptians and Indians, with the latter's philosophy of life as a transient phase possibly contributing to the idea of a numerical representation of non-existence. The text contrasts the German emphasis on punctuality and individual responsibility with the Indian approach, where time and resources are viewed as gifts from a higher authority, not owned but utilized in the flow of life. This philosophical divergence is illustrated through the anecdote of Alexander the Great and the Indian sage, whose differing views on possession and the purpose of life mirror the broader cultural contexts that either embraced or overlooked the concept of zero.

Opinions

The author posits that the invention of zero is less about the mathematical advancements it enabled and more about the philosophical bridge it represents between different civilizations' ideologies.
Punctuality and the concept of time as a personal resource in German culture are contrasted with the more fluid Indian perspective, where time is not owned but experienced as part of a larger cosmic cycle.
The article suggests that the Indian philosophical belief in the transient nature of individual possessions and the importance of higher authorities or goodness in life facilitated the conceptualization of zero.
The author believes that the lack of a philosophical underpinning that accommodates the idea of nothingness or non-possession hindered some civilizations from recognizing or inventing the digit zero.
The narrative of Alexander the Great's encounter with an Indian sage serves to underscore the stark differences in worldviews that impacted the development of mathematical concepts like zero.

The invention of Zero

Different views regarding the invention of the number ‘Zero’ exist. The ancient Egyptians are believed to have a decimal number system. ‘Zero’ is also said to be invented independently by different civilizations. India is also considered an independent inventor of ‘Zero’ and a developer of Mathematics around it. 0️⃣

The fact that who invented ‘Zero’ is not so important to the idea behind what made these civilizations invent it. And if some particular civilizations did, why couldn’t others? It seems like a very obvious thing to account for non-existence when one is considering existence in finite terms (1,2,3…).

The key to the invention of the digit in question lies deeper in the lifestyles of different civilizations.

When I moved to Germany, I noticed the stark difference between the Indian and German culture. I compared the nuances between them. The following passage is a product of one of such musings…

Let us consider two groups of people at present, ‘Indians’ and ‘Germans’.

Punctuality is a virtue in Germany. It is said that in the German way of life you own time, and you spend it. You are the sole authority of your resources and you use it at your will to achieve certain tasks. The individual is the focus in every situation. An Individual is an owner, doer, and the person responsible for everything happening around him.

Now let us consider the Indian style…

Let's make some counteracting points before we dwell deep into this.

Indians are famous for not being punctual. There is a saying in India that everything starts at the ‘Indian standard time’, which is later than scheduled. Another common dialogue by any devout individual you might hear is, ‘The God works through us and he has given us everything’. Also, Indian tradition encourages us to search for the ‘God’ (read goodness) in everyone. Thus, an Indian mind does not possess the time, nor the resources accessible to him. He/She performs actions and dedicates them to the Higher Authorities.

When Alexander the great meets a naked sage on the banks o river Indus, he offers the sage gold and gems and all the luxury in the world. But the sage replies that he has no use of any such things. Whatever he has or had, he did not acquire it, it did not belong to him nor is he going to retain it. He replies that the universe gives us things and it takes those things away. The existence of an individual does not make some things belong to the individual. Alexander on the contrary came from a different line of thought that a person had to earn everything in his one life and everything that he earned belonged to him. He believed that every person must work to make this one life rich and worth to have lived. While the Sage believed that this life is just a part of a big cycle and it has to do its role on the big canvas.

These contrasting belief systems, according to me determined the invention of zero. Where in some civilizations the idea that the individual holds nothing and does nothing according to his own accord is imbibed. The ideas of ownership and belonging are the key to others.

The idea of nothingness, non-existence, or not non-possessiveness gave rise to the invention of ‘Zero’.

And the lack of such an ideology led others to be completely unaware of a digit. Thus, the invention of zero represents more a bridge from philosophy to mathematics, and a little less the advanced mathematical concepts it enables mankind to perform. :)