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Book Cover for: The Emergence of Probability: A Philosophical Study of Early Ideas about Probability, Induction and Statistical Inference, Ian Hacking

The Emergence of Probability: A Philosophical Study of Early Ideas about Probability, Induction and Statistical Inference

Ian Hacking

Historical records show that there was no real concept of probability in Europe before the mid-seventeenth century, although the use of dice and other randomizing objects was commonplace. Ian Hacking presents a philosophical critique of early ideas about probability, induction, and statistical inference and the growth of this new family of ideas in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. Hacking invokes a wide intellectual framework involving the growth of science, economics, and the theology of the period. He argues that the transformations that made it possible for probability concepts to emerge have constrained all subsequent development of probability theory and determine the space within which philosophical debate on the subject is still conducted. First published in 1975, this edition includes an introduction that contextualizes his book in light of developing philosophical trends. Ian Hacking is the winner of the Holberg International Memorial Prize 2009.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • Publish Date: Jul 31st, 2006
  • Pages: 246
  • Language: English
  • Edition: Revised - 0002
  • Dimensions: 8.98in - 6.02in - 0.65in - 0.79lb
  • EAN: 9780521685573
  • Categories: Probability & Statistics - General

About the Author

Hacking, Ian: - Ian Hacking holds the chair of philosophy and history of scientific concepts at the College de France. Until recently he was a University Professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto. He is the author of many books, including Representing and Intervening, The Taming of Chance, Probability and Inductive Logic, and most recently Historical Ontology. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the American Academy of Arts and Science, and the British Academy. In 2004 he was elected a Companion of the Order of Canada. He is also the winner of the Holberg International Memorial Prize 2009.

More books by Ian Hacking

Book Cover for: The Taming of Chance, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Mad Travelers: Reflections on the Reality of Transient Mental Illnesses, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Representing and Intervening: Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: The Social Construction of What?, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Why Is There Philosophy of Mathematics At All?, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Historical Ontology, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Rewriting the Soul: Multiple Personality and the Sciences of Memory, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Logic of Statistical Inference, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: An Introduction to Probability and Inductive Logic, Ian Hacking
Book Cover for: Why Does Language Matter to Philosophy?, Ian Hacking

Praise for this book

"A fascinating in-depth study of the philosophical aspects of the concept of probability during its founding days."
Andreas Karlsson, Uppsala University
"[Hacking's] knowledge of the pertinent literature is considerable and the vigorous style of writing makes for enjoyable reading. Hacking states that his book was not written as history: be that as it may, but anyone who is interested in the history of probability and statistics, either as a philosopher or as a statistician, will find much here to think about."
A.I. Dale, Mathematical Reviews