Theodore M. Porter Livres

An essential work on the origins of statistics The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820–1900 explores the history of statistics from the field's origins in the nineteenth century through to the factors that produced the burst of modern statistical innovation in the early twentieth century. Theodore Porter shows that statistics was not developed by mathematicians and then applied to the sciences and social sciences. Rather, the field came into being through the efforts of social scientists, who saw a need for statistical tools in their examination of society. Pioneering statistical physicists and biologists James Clerk Maxwell, Ludwig Boltzmann, and Francis Galton introduced statistical models to the sciences by pointing to analogies between their disciplines and the social sciences. A new preface by the author looks at how the book has remained relevant since its initial publication, and considers the current place of statistics in scientific research.

"A foundational work on historical and social studies of quantification"--

The biography explores Karl Pearson's journey from philosophy and cultural history to becoming a pioneer in modern statistics. It highlights his moral convictions, socialist beliefs, and his quest for equitable gender relations. Through this narrative, the book reveals Pearson's profound intellectual pursuits and offers insights into the personal motivations that shaped his scientific contributions, providing a deeper understanding of the interplay between science and societal values.

A very significant contribution to the history of the human sciences, statistics, and eugenics. Porter rewards readers not only with astonishing insights into nineteenth-century data collection on the mentally ill and feebleminded, but also with the pleasure of reading a good, intriguing story. --Staffan Müller-Wille, coauthor of A Cultural History of Heredity