The triumph of numbers: how counting shaped modern life
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.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York [u.a.]
Norton
2005
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Table of contents Inhaltsverzeichnis Klappentext |
| 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. |
| Physical Description: | 209 S. Ill. |
| ISBN: | 0393057690 |
Staff View
MARC
| LEADER | 00000nam a2200000zc 4500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | BV021271985 | ||
| 003 | DE-604 | ||
| 005 | 20060125 | ||
| 007 | t | ||
| 008 | 051220s2005 xxua||| |||| 00||| eng d | ||
| 010 | |a 2004027322 | ||
| 020 | |a 0393057690 |9 0-393-05769-0 | ||
| 035 | |a (OCoLC)57008009 | ||
| 035 | |a (DE-599)BVBBV021271985 | ||
| 040 | |a DE-604 |b ger |e aacr | ||
| 041 | 0 | |a eng | |
| 044 | |a xxu |c US | ||
| 049 | |a DE-739 |a DE-19 | ||
| 050 | 0 | |a QA276 | |
| 082 | 0 | |a 519.5/09 |2 22 | |
| 084 | |a SK 850 |0 (DE-625)143263: |2 rvk | ||
| 100 | 1 | |a Cohen, I. Bernhard |d 1914-2003 |e Verfasser |0 (DE-588)128837543 |4 aut | |
| 245 | 1 | 0 | |a The triumph of numbers |b how counting shaped modern life |c I. Bernard Cohen |
| 264 | 1 | |a New York [u.a.] |b Norton |c 2005 | |
| 300 | |a 209 S. |b Ill. | ||
| 336 | |b txt |2 rdacontent | ||
| 337 | |b n |2 rdamedia | ||
| 338 | |b nc |2 rdacarrier | ||
| 520 | 3 | |a 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. | |
| 650 | 7 | |a Mathematisches Modell |2 swd | |
| 650 | 7 | |a Naturwissenschaften |2 swd | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Sciences - Histoire | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Sciences - Modèles mathématiques - Histoire | |
| 650 | 7 | |a Statistik |2 swd | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Statistique - Histoire | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Statistique mathématique - Histoire | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Geschichte | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Mathematisches Modell | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Naturwissenschaft | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Statistik | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Mathematical statistics |x History | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Statistics |x History | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Science |x History | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Science |x Mathematical models |x History | |
| 856 | 4 | |u http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip053/2004027322.html |3 Table of contents | |
| 856 | 4 | 2 | |m Digitalisierung UBPassau |q application/pdf |u http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000001&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA |3 Inhaltsverzeichnis |
| 856 | 4 | 2 | |m Digitalisierung UB Passau |q application/pdf |u http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000002&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA |3 Klappentext |
| 999 | |a oai:aleph.bib-bvb.de:BVB01-014593091 | ||
Record in the Search Index
| _version_ | 1804135052236292096 |
|---|---|
| adam_text | CONTENTS
Foreword by Peter Buck 11
| A WORLD OF NUMBERS 17
Numbers Everywhere 17
Numbers in History 19
Numbers in the Bible: The Sin of King David 28
Consequences of David s Sin 31
2 NEW WORLDS BASED ON NUMBERS 36
Kepler s Harmonic Law 37
Galileo and the Laws of Motion 38
Numbers in the Life Sciences: Does the Blood Circulate? 40
A First Exercise in Demography: How Many People
Can the Earth Support? 45
The Need for Life Tables 47
A New World of Numbers 48
Sir William Petty and Political Arithmetic 55
3NUMEROLOGY AND MYSTIC PHILOSOPHY:
SCIENTISTS AT PLAY WITH NUMBERS 59
What s in a Name? Converting Names into Numbers 60
Numerology in Science 64
A Crusader against Numerological Superstitions 66
^NUMBERS IN THE AGE OF REASON 68
Hutcheson s Moral Arithmetic 69
Hale s Numerical Plant and Animal Science 71
Thomas Jefferson: A Life Regulated by Numbers 73
Benjamin Franklin and Numbers 80
Franklin and Malthus 86
Franklin on Numbers and Smallpox 90
5NEW USES FOR NUMBERS 95
Numbers and Measures 95
A Concern with Numbers in France: Lavoisier s Essay
on Political Arithmetic 97
Sir John Sinclair s Census of Scotland 101
Pinel s Medical Numbers 106
Louis and the Numerical Method 108
New Uses for Numbers: Innovations by Condorcet
and Laplace 111
A DELUGE OF STATISTICS 114
Tables Galore 114
Guerry s Studies of Crime 116
^STATISTICS REACHES MATURITY;
THE AGE OF QUETELET 121
Numbers, Number Science, and Joyce s Ulysses 121
Quetelet s World of Numbers 124
The Budget of Crimes 128
The Reliability of Statistics 140
Comte versus Quetelet: Social Physics, or Sociology? 143
What Did Quetelet Accomplish? 145
8 CRITICS OF STATISTICS 147
Carlyle and Chartism 147
Dickens and Statistics 148
The Mudfog Association for the Advancement
of Everything 149
Death s .Ciphering Book 150
Corresponding Disdain 152
Facts and Figures: The Message of Hard Times 153
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE 158
Sanitary Reform: The Evidence of the Numbers 165
A Passion for Statistics 172
EPILOGUE 178
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 181
NOTES 183
LITERATURE LIST 189
INDEX 201
r
Through all of recorded history, every
organized society or system of government
has relied on numbers in some way.
Collecting numbers and making use of them
have marked human, affairs since antiquity—head-
counting censuses for tax collection and for military
service, for example, turn up in ancient Greek and
Egyptian societies and are peppered throughout the
Bible, As often as not, however, numbers were used
in decidedly nonscientific ways, as when Catholic
numerologist Petrus Bungus sought to debase
Martin Luther by showing that Luther s name corre¬
sponds to numbers that add up to 666—the num¬
ber of the Beast. In fact, not until the Scientific
Revolution in the seventeenth century did social
numbers such as births, deaths, and marriages
begin to be systematically analyzed and natural
numbers such as those Isaac Newton introduced in
his physics become standard in describing the
physical universe.
In The Triumph of Numbers, his last work, I. B.
Cohen explores how numbers have come to assume
■ a leading role just about everywhere in science, in
:~-.the operations and structure of government, in the
analysis of society, in marketing, in sports, and
more. Cohen shows how, not so long ago, the prob¬
lems1 of government, science, and engineering led
to the invention of the computer. It has been a long
journey. Starting with true revolutionaries like
Kepler and Galileo, Cohen-introduces many players
in the ascent of numbers,some barely remembered.
On his way he shines a new light on familiar figures
like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and
Charles Dickens (an avid statistician), and he
reveals Florence Nightingale as one who thought
through numbers and transforrhed British military
medical practices. In this work, Cohen has left us
with an engaging and accessible history, and an
appreciation and understanding of the essential
nature of statistics. I
|
| adam_txt |
CONTENTS
Foreword by Peter Buck 11
| A WORLD OF NUMBERS 17
Numbers Everywhere 17
Numbers in History 19
Numbers in the Bible: The Sin of King David 28
Consequences of David's Sin 31
2 NEW WORLDS BASED ON NUMBERS 36
Kepler's Harmonic Law 37
Galileo and the Laws of Motion 38
Numbers in the Life Sciences: Does the Blood Circulate? 40
A First Exercise in Demography: How Many People
Can the Earth Support? 45
The Need for Life Tables 47
A New World of Numbers 48
Sir William Petty and Political Arithmetic 55
3NUMEROLOGY AND MYSTIC PHILOSOPHY:
SCIENTISTS AT PLAY WITH NUMBERS 59
What's in a Name? Converting Names into Numbers 60
Numerology in Science 64
A Crusader against Numerological Superstitions 66
^NUMBERS IN THE AGE OF REASON 68
Hutcheson's Moral Arithmetic 69
Hale's Numerical Plant and Animal Science 71
Thomas Jefferson: A Life Regulated by Numbers 73
Benjamin Franklin and Numbers 80
Franklin and Malthus 86
Franklin on Numbers and Smallpox 90
5NEW USES FOR NUMBERS 95
Numbers and Measures 95
A Concern with Numbers in France: Lavoisier's Essay
on Political Arithmetic 97
Sir John Sinclair's Census of Scotland 101
Pinel's Medical Numbers 106
Louis and the Numerical Method 108
New Uses for Numbers: Innovations by Condorcet
and Laplace 111
A DELUGE OF STATISTICS 114
Tables Galore 114
Guerry's Studies of Crime 116
"^STATISTICS REACHES MATURITY;
THE AGE OF QUETELET 121
Numbers, Number Science, and Joyce's Ulysses 121
Quetelet's World of Numbers 124
The Budget of Crimes 128
The Reliability of Statistics 140
Comte versus Quetelet: Social Physics, or Sociology? 143
What Did Quetelet Accomplish? 145
8 CRITICS OF STATISTICS 147
Carlyle and Chartism 147
Dickens and Statistics 148
The Mudfog Association for the Advancement
of Everything 149
"Death's .Ciphering Book" 150
Corresponding Disdain 152
Facts and Figures: The Message of Hard Times 153
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE 158
Sanitary Reform: The Evidence of the Numbers 165
A Passion for Statistics 172
EPILOGUE 178
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 181
NOTES 183
LITERATURE LIST 189
INDEX 201
r
"Through all of recorded history, every
organized society or system of government
has relied on numbers in some way."
Collecting numbers and making use of them
have marked human, affairs since antiquity—head-
counting censuses for tax collection and for military
service, for example, turn up in ancient Greek and
Egyptian societies and are peppered throughout the
Bible, As often as not, however, numbers were used
in decidedly nonscientific ways, as when Catholic
numerologist Petrus Bungus sought to debase
Martin Luther by showing that Luther's name corre¬
sponds to numbers that add up to 666—the "num¬
ber of the Beast." In fact, not until the Scientific
Revolution in the seventeenth century did social
numbers such as births, deaths, and marriages
begin to be systematically analyzed and natural
numbers such as those Isaac Newton introduced in
his physics become standard in describing the
physical universe.
In The Triumph of Numbers, his last work, I. B.
Cohen explores how numbers have come to assume
■ a leading role just about everywhere in science, in
:~-.the operations and structure of government, in the
analysis of society, in marketing, in sports, and
more. Cohen shows how, not so long ago, the prob¬
lems1 of government, science, and engineering led
to the invention of the computer. It has been a long
journey. Starting with true revolutionaries like
Kepler and Galileo, Cohen-introduces many players
in the ascent of numbers,some barely remembered.
On his way he shines a new light on familiar figures
like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and
Charles Dickens (an avid statistician), and he
reveals Florence Nightingale as one who thought
through numbers and transforrhed British military
medical practices. In this work, Cohen has left us
with an engaging and accessible history, and an
appreciation and understanding of the essential
nature of statistics. I |
| any_adam_object | 1 |
| any_adam_object_boolean | 1 |
| author | Cohen, I. Bernhard 1914-2003 |
| author_GND | (DE-588)128837543 |
| author_facet | Cohen, I. Bernhard 1914-2003 |
| author_role | aut |
| author_sort | Cohen, I. Bernhard 1914-2003 |
| author_variant | i b c ib ibc |
| building | Verbundindex |
| bvnumber | BV021271985 |
| callnumber-first | Q - Science |
| callnumber-label | QA276 |
| callnumber-raw | QA276 |
| callnumber-search | QA276 |
| callnumber-sort | QA 3276 |
| callnumber-subject | QA - Mathematics |
| classification_rvk | SK 850 |
| ctrlnum | (OCoLC)57008009 (DE-599)BVBBV021271985 |
| dewey-full | 519.5/09 |
| dewey-hundreds | 500 - Natural sciences and mathematics |
| dewey-ones | 519 - Probabilities and applied mathematics |
| dewey-raw | 519.5/09 |
| dewey-search | 519.5/09 |
| dewey-sort | 3519.5 19 |
| dewey-tens | 510 - Mathematics |
| discipline | Mathematik |
| discipline_str_mv | Mathematik |
| format | Book |
| fullrecord | <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><collection xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/MARC21/slim"><record><leader>02333nam a2200541zc 4500</leader><controlfield tag="001">BV021271985</controlfield><controlfield tag="003">DE-604</controlfield><controlfield tag="005">20060125 </controlfield><controlfield tag="007">t</controlfield><controlfield tag="008">051220s2005 xxua||| |||| 00||| eng d</controlfield><datafield tag="010" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">2004027322</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="020" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">0393057690</subfield><subfield code="9">0-393-05769-0</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="035" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">(OCoLC)57008009</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="035" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">(DE-599)BVBBV021271985</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="040" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">DE-604</subfield><subfield code="b">ger</subfield><subfield code="e">aacr</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="041" ind1="0" ind2=" "><subfield code="a">eng</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="044" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">xxu</subfield><subfield code="c">US</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="049" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">DE-739</subfield><subfield code="a">DE-19</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="050" ind1=" " ind2="0"><subfield code="a">QA276</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="082" ind1="0" ind2=" "><subfield code="a">519.5/09</subfield><subfield code="2">22</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="084" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">SK 850</subfield><subfield code="0">(DE-625)143263:</subfield><subfield code="2">rvk</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="100" ind1="1" ind2=" "><subfield code="a">Cohen, I. Bernhard</subfield><subfield code="d">1914-2003</subfield><subfield code="e">Verfasser</subfield><subfield code="0">(DE-588)128837543</subfield><subfield code="4">aut</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="245" ind1="1" ind2="0"><subfield code="a">The triumph of numbers</subfield><subfield code="b">how counting shaped modern life</subfield><subfield code="c">I. Bernard Cohen</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="264" ind1=" " ind2="1"><subfield code="a">New York [u.a.]</subfield><subfield code="b">Norton</subfield><subfield code="c">2005</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="300" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">209 S.</subfield><subfield code="b">Ill.</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="336" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="b">txt</subfield><subfield code="2">rdacontent</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="337" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="b">n</subfield><subfield code="2">rdamedia</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="338" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="b">nc</subfield><subfield code="2">rdacarrier</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="520" ind1="3" ind2=" "><subfield code="a">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.</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="7"><subfield code="a">Mathematisches Modell</subfield><subfield code="2">swd</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="7"><subfield code="a">Naturwissenschaften</subfield><subfield code="2">swd</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Sciences - Histoire</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Sciences - Modèles mathématiques - Histoire</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="7"><subfield code="a">Statistik</subfield><subfield code="2">swd</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Statistique - Histoire</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Statistique mathématique - Histoire</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Geschichte</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Mathematisches Modell</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Naturwissenschaft</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Statistik</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Mathematical statistics</subfield><subfield code="x">History</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Statistics</subfield><subfield code="x">History</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Science</subfield><subfield code="x">History</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="650" ind1=" " ind2="4"><subfield code="a">Science</subfield><subfield code="x">Mathematical models</subfield><subfield code="x">History</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="856" ind1="4" ind2=" "><subfield code="u">http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip053/2004027322.html</subfield><subfield code="3">Table of contents</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="856" ind1="4" ind2="2"><subfield code="m">Digitalisierung UBPassau</subfield><subfield code="q">application/pdf</subfield><subfield code="u">http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000001&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA</subfield><subfield code="3">Inhaltsverzeichnis</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="856" ind1="4" ind2="2"><subfield code="m">Digitalisierung UB Passau</subfield><subfield code="q">application/pdf</subfield><subfield code="u">http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000002&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA</subfield><subfield code="3">Klappentext</subfield></datafield><datafield tag="999" ind1=" " ind2=" "><subfield code="a">oai:aleph.bib-bvb.de:BVB01-014593091</subfield></datafield></record></collection> |
| id | DE-604.BV021271985 |
| illustrated | Illustrated |
| index_date | 2024-07-02T13:44:45Z |
| indexdate | 2024-07-09T20:34:22Z |
| institution | BVB |
| isbn | 0393057690 |
| language | English |
| lccn | 2004027322 |
| oai_aleph_id | oai:aleph.bib-bvb.de:BVB01-014593091 |
| oclc_num | 57008009 |
| open_access_boolean | |
| owner | DE-739 DE-19 DE-BY-UBM |
| owner_facet | DE-739 DE-19 DE-BY-UBM |
| physical | 209 S. Ill. |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publishDateSearch | 2005 |
| publishDateSort | 2005 |
| publisher | Norton |
| record_format | marc |
| spelling | Cohen, I. Bernhard 1914-2003 Verfasser (DE-588)128837543 aut The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life I. Bernard Cohen New York [u.a.] Norton 2005 209 S. Ill. txt rdacontent n rdamedia nc rdacarrier 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. Mathematisches Modell swd Naturwissenschaften swd Sciences - Histoire Sciences - Modèles mathématiques - Histoire Statistik swd Statistique - Histoire Statistique mathématique - Histoire Geschichte Mathematisches Modell Naturwissenschaft Statistik Mathematical statistics History Statistics History Science History Science Mathematical models History http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip053/2004027322.html Table of contents Digitalisierung UBPassau application/pdf http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000001&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA Inhaltsverzeichnis Digitalisierung UB Passau application/pdf http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000002&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA Klappentext |
| spellingShingle | Cohen, I. Bernhard 1914-2003 The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life Mathematisches Modell swd Naturwissenschaften swd Sciences - Histoire Sciences - Modèles mathématiques - Histoire Statistik swd Statistique - Histoire Statistique mathématique - Histoire Geschichte Mathematisches Modell Naturwissenschaft Statistik Mathematical statistics History Statistics History Science History Science Mathematical models History |
| title | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life |
| title_auth | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life |
| title_exact_search | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life |
| title_exact_search_txtP | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life |
| title_full | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life I. Bernard Cohen |
| title_fullStr | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life I. Bernard Cohen |
| title_full_unstemmed | The triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life I. Bernard Cohen |
| title_short | The triumph of numbers |
| title_sort | the triumph of numbers how counting shaped modern life |
| title_sub | how counting shaped modern life |
| topic | Mathematisches Modell swd Naturwissenschaften swd Sciences - Histoire Sciences - Modèles mathématiques - Histoire Statistik swd Statistique - Histoire Statistique mathématique - Histoire Geschichte Mathematisches Modell Naturwissenschaft Statistik Mathematical statistics History Statistics History Science History Science Mathematical models History |
| topic_facet | Mathematisches Modell Naturwissenschaften Sciences - Histoire Sciences - Modèles mathématiques - Histoire Statistik Statistique - Histoire Statistique mathématique - Histoire Geschichte Naturwissenschaft Mathematical statistics History Statistics History Science History Science Mathematical models History |
| url | http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip053/2004027322.html http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000001&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&local_base=BVB01&doc_number=014593091&sequence=000002&line_number=0002&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cohenibernhard thetriumphofnumbershowcountingshapedmodernlife |