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Debate: Calendar reform
From Debatepedia
[Edit] Should the Gregorian calendar be reformed and worldwide calendars standardized? |
[Edit] Background and contextThis is an interesting proposition, if one that is not taken particularly seriously. Past suggestions to reform the Gregorian calendar have all failed in the face of tradition, convenience and apathy. Three of the most common proposals for reform are as follows. [1] The World Calendar is based on a 52-week, 364-day year, starting on Sunday, January 1st; the 365th day has no day of the week and is called ‘Year-End Day’; and in leap years a Leap-Year Day is inserted between June and July. January, April, July and October all have 31 days, and the rest 30. [2] The International Fixed Calendar divides the year into 13 months of 28 days each, with the 365th day (‘Year Day’) outside the months, and a Leap Day after June 28th in leap years. All months begin on Sundays, and the new, seventh month is known as Sol. [3] The Perpetual Calendar has four 3-month quarters, each beginning on a Monday. Like the previous two, an extra Year-End Day and Leap-Year Day are inserted. |
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[Edit] [ ![]() Consistency: Is the Gregorian calendar inconsistent? | |
[Edit] Yes
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[Edit] No
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[Edit] [ ![]() Starting point: Is the Gregorian calendar starting point arbitrary? | |
[Edit] Yes
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[Edit] No
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[Edit] [ ![]() Inevitable: Is calendar reform inevitable? | |
[Edit] Yes
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[Edit] No
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[Edit] [ ![]() Argument #4 (this section needs standardizing) | |
[Edit] YesThe calendar has been successfully reformed in the past; the Gregorian Calendar was only devised in 1582 (by Pope Gregory XIII). There would be a cost in reforming again, but this would be offset in the long-term by the savings due to simplification. |
[Edit] NoCalendar reform has also failed in the past, e.g. the French Revolution Calendar, introduced in 1793 and disbanded again in 1806, or Russia where five-day weeks (without Saturday or Sunday) were temporarily implemented.
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[Edit] [ ![]() Pro/con resources | |
[Edit] Yes |
[Edit] No |
[Edit] See also[Edit] External links and resources:[Edit] Books:
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Categories: Debatabase | International | Calendar | History | Time