Trust In Numbers
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Trust in Numbers
Author: Theodore M. Porter
language: en
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Release Date: 2020-08-18
A foundational work on historical and social studies of quantification What accounts for the prestige of quantitative methods? The usual answer is that quantification is desirable in social investigation as a result of its successes in science. Trust in Numbers questions whether such success in the study of stars, molecules, or cells should be an attractive model for research on human societies, and examines why the natural sciences are highly quantitative in the first place. Theodore Porter argues that a better understanding of the attractions of quantification in business, government, and social research brings a fresh perspective to its role in psychology, physics, and medicine. Quantitative rigor is not inherent in science but arises from political and social pressures, and objectivity derives its impetus from cultural contexts. In a new preface, the author sheds light on the current infatuation with quantitative methods, particularly at the intersection of science and bureaucracy.
How to Read Numbers
Statistics rule our world. Every day, most of us will read or watch something in the news that is based on a statistic in some way. Sometimes it'll be obvious - 'X people develop cancer every year' - and sometimes less obvious - 'red wine protects against cancer'. But still, it happens all the time. The trouble is, statistics, when used carelessly, are dangerous, and can bring forth demons. They are an immensely powerful tool for understanding the world; the best tool we have. But in the hands of unscrupulous, careless, or simply clueless people, they can easily be used to tell stories that are misleading or even flat-out false. This book is a guide to how and when to trust them - and perhaps more importantly, when not to.
Numbers and the Making of Us
Author: Caleb Everett
language: en
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Release Date: 2017-03-13
“A fascinating book.” —James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review A Smithsonian Best Science Book of the Year Winner of the PROSE Award for Best Book in Language & Linguistics Carved into our past and woven into our present, numbers shape our perceptions of the world far more than we think. In this sweeping account of how the invention of numbers sparked a revolution in human thought and culture, Caleb Everett draws on new discoveries in psychology, anthropology, and linguistics to reveal the many things made possible by numbers, from the concept of time to writing, agriculture, and commerce. Numbers are a tool, like the wheel, developed and refined over millennia. They allow us to grasp quantities precisely, but recent research confirms that they are not innate—and without numbers, we could not fully grasp quantities greater than three. Everett considers the number systems that have developed in different societies as he shares insights from his fascinating work with indigenous Amazonians. “This is bold, heady stuff... The breadth of research Everett covers is impressive, and allows him to develop a narrative that is both global and compelling... Numbers is eye-opening, even eye-popping.” —New Scientist “A powerful and convincing case for Everett’s main thesis: that numbers are neither natural nor innate to humans.” —Wall Street Journal