Ian Hacking

  • Ian Hacking Birth

  • The Emergence of Probability

    Hackling publishes his work, "the emergence of probability." In this work, Hackling analyzes the history of probability. Specifically, he asks the question, why was there no probability theory before Pascal in the 1800s? He argues that you must not only look at the emergence of probability from a historical perspective, but you must try to understand the conditions that lead up to the emergence of the idea of probability.
  • Representing and Intervening

    "Representing and Intervening." This work is an introduction to the philosophy of science with regards to scientific realism. In it, "representing" is different philosophical viewpoints of what scientific objectivity is. On the other hand, "intervening" is the scientific experimentation and how it is interpreted throughout history with regards to scientific objectivity. Here Hacking explains science interpretation in history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIBAuE-Cbic
  • The Taming of Chance

    Hacking publishes the sequel to "The Emergence of Probability," titled, "The Taming of Chance." In this work, Hacking argues that the situation that paved the way for a mentality of probability was an erosion of a more deterministic worldview. In other words, the people of the 19th century believed more in a world where every action that is taken is taken as a result of a series of events that let to that particular determination. This world view began to erode, allowing probability to rise up.