Symmetry and its discontents : essays on the history of inductive probability / S.L. Zabell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zabell, S. L., 1947- author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in probability, induction, and decision theory.

Cambridge studies in probability, induction and decision theory

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Probabilities--History.

Probabilities.

Induction (Logic).

Inference.

Prediction (Logic).

Mathematicians--History.

Mathematicians.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 279 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Other Title:

Symmetry & its Discontents

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This volume brings together a collection of essays on the history and philosophy of probability and statistics by one of the eminent scholars in these subjects. Written over the last fifteen years, they fall into three broad categories. The first deals with the use of symmetry arguments in inductive probability, in particular, their use in deriving rules of succession (Carnap's 'continuum of inductive methods'). The second group deals with four outstanding individuals who made lasting contributions to probability and statistics in very different ways: Frank Ramsey, R. A. Fisher, Alan Turing, and Abraham de Moivre. The last group of essays deals with the problem of 'predicting the unpredictable' - making predictions when the range of possible outcomes is unknown in advance. The essays weave together the history and philosophy of these subjects and document the fascination that they have exercised for more than three centuries.

Contents:

pt. 1. Probability

pt. 2. Personalities

pt. 3. Prediction.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-107-12655-X

1-280-41462-6

9786610414628

0-511-61429-2

0-511-17145-5

0-511-19718-7

0-511-12636-0

0-511-29856-0

0-511-12550-X

OCLC:

171137381