The taming of chance
by Ian Hacking · first published 1990
3mentions
3recommended by
3HN commenters
2019–2026first – last mentioned
100% recommend
This book combines detailed scientific historical research with characteristic philosophic breadth and verve.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Just wanted to flag that the works of Ian Hacking, especially The Emergence of Probability (1975) and The Taming of Chance (1990) are excellent on this. Dense and challenging at times but also well written and the product of a very original mind. The latter book has a Wikipedia page with some more info - was surprised to…
on “A Renaissance gambling dispute spawned probability theory” ↗This is a very good book, fairly mathematical: https://archive.org/details/ofmathemahistory00todhrich Ian Hacking has two books, he is a philosopher, accordingly they have a broader outlook: "The Taming of Chance" "The Emergence of Probability" Stephen Stigler's "The History of Statistics" seems to be the most popular history of statistics.
on “Ask HN: Good long form presentation of the history of probability theory” ↗Solid write up. If anyone's interesting in knowing more about how probability _came to be_ 'regarded' as real, i highly recommend Ian Hacking's "The Taming of Chance". Thought provoking in so many ways.
on “Is Probability Real?” ↗