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 here 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. The contemporary debate centres round such figures as Pascal, Leibniz and Jacques Bernoulli. What brought about the change in ideas? The author invokes in his explanation a wider intellectual framework involving the growth of science, economics and the theology of the period.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
The Emergence of Probability A Philosophical Study of Early Ideas about Probability, Induction and Statistical Inference
'Ian Hacking's delightful new book is a tour de force of historical scholarship ... [He] takes us on a fascinating tour, not only among the 17th century giants of probability theory, such as Pascal, Huygens, Leibniz, and Bernoulli, but among their predecessors and descendants ... the book can be recommended to anyone interested in history, or philosophy, or gambling, or theology. It contributes to the understanding of all these topics and more.' Theory and Decision
'This is not a technical book on probability, although of course Hacking is at home in this field and writes easily about it when necessary. His book is an important contribution to the history of ideas, cutting new paths, joining some of the more standard and known aspects of the early history of probability theory with lesser-known but equally important works ... not only does Hacking write well, but he has a firm historical sense, and is careful to get the views he discusses correct. His history of the idea of probability is careful, accurate, and absolutely absorbing.' Philosophical Books
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
FREE shipping within United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speeds£ 32.43 shipping from U.S.A. to United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speedsSeller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Ships from the UK. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 41912810-6
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Anybook.com, Lincoln, United Kingdom
Condition: Poor. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,500grams, ISBN:0521204607. Seller Inventory # 5569521
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: books4less (Versandantiquariat Petra Gros GmbH & Co. KG), Welling, Germany
gebundene Ausgabe. Condition: Gut. 209 Seiten Das hier angebotene Buch stammt aus einer teilaufgelösten Bibliothek und kann die entsprechenden Kennzeichnungen aufweisen (Rückenschild, Instituts-Stempel.); der Buchzustand ist ansonsten ordentlich und dem Alter entsprechend gut. In ENGLISCHER Sprache. Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 440. Seller Inventory # 2223028
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Anybook.com, Lincoln, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,550grams, ISBN:0521204607. Seller Inventory # 5819638
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Hackenberg Booksellers ABAA, El Cerrito, CA, U.S.A.
[vii] 209p., original black cloth, ex libris. Seller Inventory # 023937
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Hackenberg Booksellers ABAA, El Cerrito, CA, U.S.A.
[ix] 209p., original black cloth. Seller Inventory # 029915
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: dsmbooks, Liverpool, United Kingdom
hardcover. Condition: Good. Good. book. Seller Inventory # D8S0-3-M-0521204607-3
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Ted Kottler, Bookseller, Redondo Beach, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First printing. 5 leaves, 209 pp. Original cloth. Very Good+, in very good+ dust jacket (unclipped). 'Considers the philosophical aspects of early ideas of probability and statistical inference. Most of the book is devoted to 17th-century incidents' (Joseph W. Dauben, History of Mathematics from Antiquity to the Present: A Selective Bibliography, 1985, no. 793). Seller Inventory # 22946
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: BennettBooksLtd, North Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! Seller Inventory # Q-0521204607
Quantity: 1 available