|
The various astronomical days, months and years really do exist; but the calendrical day and month and year do not. They are creations of the calendar, which approximate the astronomical periods in some ways. But they aren't just inaccurate measurements; to use the astronomical units would be wrong by the calendar. So these units have no existence without the calendar. -- SJK |
"Provide names to periods of time" that's a bit closer to it...my problem is, a year did not exist until a calendar that defined it did, so a calendar doesn't give a name to a year, creates it. But how do you measure those periods of time? A day is a pretty obvious thing, based on the movement of an astronomical object, the sun. The year is a bit more problematic, and you can only define it observing the constelations in the sky at sunset or sunrise. Thus my attempted definition. If you can do better, please be my guest, but I'm not going to leave that line as it is.
The various astronomical days, months and years really do exist; but the calendrical day and month and year do not. They are creations of the calendar, which approximate the astronomical periods in some ways. But they aren't just inaccurate measurements; to use the astronomical units would be wrong by the calendar. So these units have no existence without the calendar. -- SJK