Putting an end to the cultural appropriation of Arabic numerals

The widespread use of Arabic numerals is an unacceptable form of cultural appropriation. By invisibilizing their mathematical heritage, we contribute to the prejudice and stigmatization of Arab and Indian populations.

It's high time we returned to Roman numerals to avoid cultural appropriation and to anchor our sciences in our Western cultural heritage.

The use of Arabic or Roman numerals, depending on the user's culture, would have the immense advantage of valorizing our diversities and their coexistence in our daily lives.

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Scientific arguments

A scandalous invisibility

The use of Arabic numerals is so widespread that it's easy to forget that they didn't originate in Europe. Developed in India in the first millennium A.D., these numerals were later adopted by Arab mathematicians, before being introduced to Europe in the Middle Ages. While the adoption of Arabic numerals had a positive impact on the development of mathematics in the West, it is important to consider the cultural implications of their widespread use. Indeed, the omnipresence of so-called “Arabic” numerals constitutes an unacceptable form of cultural appropriation. By naming them “Arabic”, we obscure India's crucial contribution to the history of mathematics; by using them without the slightest specification, we appropriate them and promote a Western-centric vision of the history of science.

Back to Roman numerals: an essential option

A return to Roman numerals, a numerical system of European origin, as an alternative to “Arabic” numerals would offer several advantages. On the one hand, it would mean a clear renunciation of this cultural appropriation. On the other hand, while Roman numerals, with their additive structure, are of course less handy and less suited to complex calculations than Arabic numerals, it would enable us to humble ourselves and feel, through this difficulty, the oppression that our colonial vision has shown over the centuries.

Celebrating diversity

The use of “Arabic” and Roman numerals, depending on the user's culture, in our daily lives would be a simple yet powerful way of valuing our cultural diversities and promoting their harmonious coexistence. Numbers, the fundamental elements of our digital system, are omnipresent in modern life. By integrating these multiple numerical systems into our daily lives, we would embrace the richness of our cultural heritages and underline our openness to diversity. The coexistence of Arabic and Roman numerals (and perhaps others) would testify to our ability to live together in mutual respect and understanding. By valuing our differences rather than seeing them as barriers, we would reinforce tolerance and inclusion within our society. Adopting this inclusive approach in our use of numbers would be a way of fostering acceptance of diversity and promoting a culture of respect and peace.

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