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Quote by: thrashee  2+2 does not always equal 4.
Let's say that in a new arithmetic, 2 is the new symbol that represents the old numeric construct of 4. |
It doesn't change the fact that two (representing the quantity previously known as two, a pair, a couple, etc.) plus two equals four (representing the quantity that is known as four, a quadruple, etc.). Whatever you call them, this many + this many = that many.
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Now 2+2 = 8 (provided in our new numeric system, 8 remains the same).
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These kinds of hypotheticals ("if we changed the meaning of the number 2 or the number 4") are just stupid. We're talking about reality and not hypotheticals.