Why do we struggle with large numbers?

We struggle with comprehending large numbers primarily due to our evolutionary history and the limitations of our perceptual and cognitive systems. Here are some key points explaining why:

1. Evolutionary Context: Historically, humans lived in small tribes where counting beyond a basic level (e.g., up to ten) wasn't necessary. Only in the 20th century, with global connectivity and advancements in science, have we needed to grapple with much larger numbers, such as millions and billions. Our brains, however, haven't evolved to intuitively understand such large scales, which can make grasping the full extent of large numbers challenging 1.

2. Scale Blindness: When faced with large-scale numbers, humans exhibit what is known as "scale blindness." This is evident when people show similar emotional or practical responses to different magnitudes of a problem if the numbers involved are sufficiently large. For instance, studies have shown that people might donate similar amounts of money whether 8,000 or 800,000 seabirds are affected by an oil slick, indicating an inability to differentiate effectively between these large numbers 2.

3. Technological Contrast: Modern technology can handle and process large numbers much faster and more accurately than humans can. This discrepancy highlights the contrast between our biological limitations and the capabilities of machines, which can handle vast amounts of data and perform operations at speeds that are unfathomable to the human brain 2.

Understanding our struggle with large numbers underscores the importance of developing tools and methods that can help bridge the cognitive gap between our evolutionary heritage and the demands of modern life.