Are numbers essential for counting? Probably, in a world where we don’t just want to know if something is good, but exactly how good. But it wasn’t always the case.
In this clip from his Vicky Neale Public Lecture, Tim Harford demonstrates that earlier cultures used alternate ways to keep track.
The Inaugural Vicky Neale Public Lecture was given by economist and broadcaster Tim Harford in recognition of the invaluable contribution to mathematical education of the late Vicky Neale. In the lecture, Tim looks at how data built the modern world - and how we can use it to build a better one.
You can watch the full lecture here