An Introduction to Probability and Inductive Logic
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Review
'Hacking's book excels … especially in the practical, concrete examples. It uses minimal mathematics and presumes no acquaintance with symbolic logic. It is well suited for graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in inductive logic or related areas (such as philosophy of science or methodology courses in particular empirical sciences). The book gives a nice introduction to inductive logic.' Harry Gensler, Times Higher Education Supplement
'This is, as intended, a very introductory text in probability and inductive logic.' Zentralblatt für Mathematik
'This is, as intended, a very introductory text in probability and inductive logic.' Zentralblatt für Mathematik
Review
'Hacking's book excels ... especially in the practical, concrete examples. It uses minimal mathematics and presumes no acquaintance with symbolic logic. It is well suited for graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in inductive logic or related areas (such as philosophy of science or methodology courses in particular empirical sciences). The book gives a nice introduction to inductive logic.' Harry Gensler, Times Higher Education Supplement 'This is, as intended, a very introductory text in probability and inductive logic.' Zentralblatt fur Mathematik
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First Sentence
Most of the main ideas about probability come up right at the beginning. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Most of the main ideas about probability come up right at the beginning. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Our ancestors had to decide how safe it was to enter a cave, we have to decide how safe it is to buy a stock or to get a new job. Both are inductions, and we are still not very good at them. But, unlike our ancestors, we have come to massively underestimate the problem and often take evidence at face value, especially when fashioned as "scientific". Hacking's introduction is an excellent antidote to the sorry custom of drawing mindless conclusions from seemingly sophisticated but invalid probabilistic reasoning. I also recommend reading Hacking's other two books on the history probability: The Emergence of Probability and The Taming of Chance.
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10 reviews
43 of 48 people found the following review helpful
What do you mean, "probably"?
14 Feb 2002
Format:Paperback
The best thing about this book is that it teachs basic probability theory while keeping the reader constantly aware of the on-going debate regarding what it means to talk in terms of probabilities, and of how that debate has shaped the development of probability theory. If you are a student taking a course in probability and statistics who would like to genuinely understand the conceptual basis of all those formulas they are teaching you, I suggest you read this book.
Some readers will be disappointed by this book. Since the book concentrates on the conceptual basis of probability and inductive logic, it does not give the reader enough technical tools to really do much applied mathematics. On the other hand, by the time Hacking gets around to discussing what students of philosophy will likely view as the big philosophical pay-off of probability theory (i.e. Bayesian and frequentist contributions to the problem of justifying induction) he devotes to them a mere 20 pages of not terribly deep discussion.
33 of 37 people found the following review helpful
For anyone, any thinker
6 Jun 2002
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I would HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone (including business men) who must make decisions with incomplete information and under uncertainty. Instead of focusing on the mechanics of statistics, it focuses on how to think about risky propositions.
I bought this book while working on a particular problem in machine learning, at a point where I had started realizing that I was losing clarity on my definition of probability. I was using the mechanics, but didn't clearly understand why the use was valid. This seemed an odd and embarrassing circumstance at the time, how could I not understand what "probability" means? As it turns out this confusion is one shared broadly in history of science, and in current applications of statistical mechanics.
Prof Hacking's writing is clear and entertaining, clearly aimed at engaging the reading audience.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Especially good on Bayesianism and Frequentism
14 Jun 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
(FOUR AND A HALF STARS)
This is more an intro to the PHILOSOPHY of probability and inductive logic than an intro to the MATHEMATICS of probability of inductive logic, although some of the basic mathematical ideas are covered (which is useful if you're gonna discuss the philosophy). Do not get this book if you're just looking for a typical mathematical intro to statistics. But DO get this book if you want to know about the foundations of Bayesianism or are interested in the Frequentists vs. Bayesian debate. It is the best intro out there on the Frequentists/Bayesians issue, and it is extremely helpful for someone who is trying to get a handle on Bayesian reasoning. Also, those who are more into the mathematical aspects of probability could find this book useful in giving them a wider perspective on the subject. On the whole, it's clearly written and fun to read, although it is not an "easy" book. A basic knowledge of probability theory and some initial grasp of induction are good to have before reading this. But overall, it's highly recommended for those who want to know about the conceptual underpinnings of probability/induction in general, and Bayesian and Frequentism specifically.
This is more an intro to the PHILOSOPHY of probability and inductive logic than an intro to the MATHEMATICS of probability of inductive logic, although some of the basic mathematical ideas are covered (which is useful if you're gonna discuss the philosophy). Do not get this book if you're just looking for a typical mathematical intro to statistics. But DO get this book if you want to know about the foundations of Bayesianism or are interested in the Frequentists vs. Bayesian debate. It is the best intro out there on the Frequentists/Bayesians issue, and it is extremely helpful for someone who is trying to get a handle on Bayesian reasoning. Also, those who are more into the mathematical aspects of probability could find this book useful in giving them a wider perspective on the subject. On the whole, it's clearly written and fun to read, although it is not an "easy" book. A basic knowledge of probability theory and some initial grasp of induction are good to have before reading this. But overall, it's highly recommended for those who want to know about the conceptual underpinnings of probability/induction in general, and Bayesian and Frequentism specifically.
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