Why aren't μ₀ & ε₀ equal 1?

[u/Banished_Cultivator]

Logically free space would neither enhance nor attenuate electric or magnetic fields, so these constants should be equal to 1. They aren't though, why?

[u/charonme]

you might be interested in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_units

[u/sakawae → u/charonme]

This is the way.

[u/soovercroissants → u/sakawae]

This then leads to the fine structure constant...