Displaying 1 of 1 2005 Format: Book Author: Cohen, I. Bernard, 1914-2003. Title: The triumph of numbers : how counting shaped modern life / I. Bernard Cohen. Publisher, Date: New York : W.W. Norton, ©2005. Description: 209 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm Summary: The Triumph of Numbers explores how numbers have come to assume a leading role in just about everywhere in science, in the operations and s tructure of government, in the analysis of society, in marketing, in sports, and more. Subjects: Mathematical statistics -- History. Statistics -- History. Science -- History. Science -- Mathematical models -- History. Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-199) and index. Contents: 1. A world of numbers : -- Numbers everywhere -- Numbers in history -- Numbers in the Bible : the sin of King David -- Consequences of David's sin -- 2. New worlds based on numbers : -- Kepler's harmonic law -- Galileo and the laws of motion -- Numbers in the life sciences : does the blood circulate? -- A first exercise in demography : how many people can the Earth support? -- The need for life tables -- A new world of numbers -- Sir William Petty and political arithmetic -- 3. Numerology and mystic philosophy : scientists at play with numbers : -- What's in a name? : converting names into numbers -- Numerology in science -- A crusader against numerological superstitions -- 4. Numbers in the age of reason : -- Hutcheson's moral arithmetic -- Hale's numerical plant and animal science -- Thomas Jefferson : a life regulated by numbers -- Benjamin Franklin and numbers -- Franklin and Malthus -- Franklin on numbers and smallpox -- 5. New uses for numbers : -- Numbers and measures -- A concern with numbers in France : Lavoisier's essay on political arithmetic -- Sir John Sinclair's census of Scotland -- Pinel's medical numbers -- Louis and the numerical method -- New uses for numbers : innovations by Condorcet and Laplace -- 6. A deluge of statistics : -- Tables galore -- Guerry's studies of crime -- 7. Statistics reaches maturity : the age of Quetelet : -- Numbers, number science, and Joyce's Ulysses -- Quetelet's world of numbers -- The budget of crimes -- The reliability of statistics -- Comte versus Quetelet : social physics, or sociology? -- What did Quetelet accomplish? -- 8. Critics of statistics : -- Carlyle and Chartism -- Dickens and statistics -- The Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything -- "Death's ciphering book" -- Corresponding disdain -- Facts and figures : the message of Hard times -- 9. Florence Nightingale : -- Sanitary reform : the evidence of the numbers -- A passion for statistics. Web Site: Table of contents LCCN: 2004027322 ISBN: 0393057690 9780393057690 0393328708 pbk 9780393328707 pbk Other Number: 57008009 System Availability: 1 Current Holds: 0 # Local items: 1 Control Number: 155960 # Local items in: 1 # System items in: 1 Call Number: 519.5 Cohen Place Hold Add to My List Expand All | Collapse All Availability Map It Suggestions and more Displaying 1 of 1
