Numbers Ruling the World. Philosophical Aspects of the New International System of Units (SI)

An attempt of the philosophical underpinning of the adoption of new standards of the fundamental physical quantities and the new International system of units (SI) is made. The measurements in the system of standards are discussed from a historical perspective with reference to the theory of scientific revolutions. The causes and effects for replacing the standards relying on material carriers by those based on seven universal physical constants are analyzed. The new SI is discussed as a basis of the non-classical science paradigm and as a preparation for a new post-classical stage.