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

Hacking, Ian

ISBN 10: 0521318033 / ISBN 13: 9780521318037

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1984

The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing. Seller Inventory # BSM.IGSM

Synopsis:

A critique of the growth of probability theory in the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Review: '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

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Emergence of Probability: A ...
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Date: 1984
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: good