The Empire of Chance : How Probability Changed Science and Everyday Life

New York : Cambridge University Press, 1990. Reprint. Softcover. Near fine paperback copy; wrapper edges very slightly dulled. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description: 360 pages; 21cm. Notes: Bibliography: p293-326. - Includes index. Contents:Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1 Classical probabilities, 1660-1840 -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 The beginnings -- 1.3 The classical interpretation -- 1.4 Determinism -- 1.5 Reasonableness -- 1.6 Risk in gambling and insurance -- 1.7 Evidence and causes -- 1.8 The moral sciences -- 1.9 Conclusion -- 2 Statistical probabilities, 1820-1900 -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Statistical regularity and l'homme moyen -- 2.3 Opposition to statistics -- 2.4 Statistics and variation -- 2.5 The error law and correlation -- 2.6 The statistical critique of determinism -- 2.7 Conclusion -- 3 The inference experts -- 3.1 In want of a ""system of mean results -- 3.2 Analysis of variance -- 3.3 Fisher's antecedents: early significance tests and comparative experimentation -- 3.4 The controversy: Fisher vs. Neyman and Pearson -- 3.5 Hybridization: the silent solution -- 3.6 The statistical profession: intellectual autonomy -- 3.7 The statistical profession: institutions and influence -- 3.8 Conclusion -- 4 Chance and life: controversies in modem biology -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Spontaneity and control: chance in physiology -- 4.3 Coincidence and design: chance in natural history -- 4.4 Correlations and causes: chance in genetics -- 4.5 Sampling and selection: chance in evolutionary biology -- 5 The probabilistic revolution in physics -- 5.1 The background: classical physics -- 5.2 Probability in classical physics: the epistemic interpretation -- 5.3 Three limitations of classical physics: sources of probabilism -- 5.4 Comments on the three limitations -- 5.5 Mass phenomena and propensities -- 5.6 Explanations from probabilistic assumptions -- 5.7 The puzzle of irreversibility in time -- 5.8 The discontinuity underlying all change -- 6 Statistics of the mind -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 The pre-statistical period. 6.3 The new tools -- 6.4 From tools to theories of mind -- 6.5 A case study: from thinking to judgments under uncertainty -- 6.6 The return of the reasonable man -- 6.7 Conclusion -- 7 Numbers rule the world -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 New objects -- 7.3 New values -- 7.4 New rules -- 7.5 Conclusion -- 8 The implications of chance -- 8.1 Probabilistic imperialism -- 8.2 What does probability mean? -- 8.3 Determinism -- 8.4 Mechanized inference -- 8.5 Statistical Lebensgef uhl -- References -- Name index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W -- Y -- Z -- Subject index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z. Subjects: Probabilities. Mathematical statistics. Science -- Philosophy. Probabilities.Science. Probabilities History. Mathematical statistics History. Science Philosophy History.Philosophy. ProbabilityProbabilit�s. Statistique math�matique. Sciences Philosophie. Philosophie.Sciences. probability.philosophy. sciences (philosophy). Science.Philosophy. Mathematical statistics. Probabilities.Science Philosophy. Probabilities Philosophy.Mathematical statistics.Science Philosophy. MATHEMATICS Reference.Mathematical statistics.Science Philosophy. Science PhilosophyProbability. Probabilities.Mathematical statistics.Science Philosophy.Probabilities. Mathematical statistics. Probabilities Philosophy. Science Philosophy History. Probabilities Philosophical perspectives