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Birth
Ian Hacking is born February 18, 1936 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
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Education
While at University, Hacking earned two undergraduate degrees. One from the University of British Columbia and one from Trinity College at Cambridge. He stayed on at Cambridge to complete his doctorate in moral sciences. During this time he was taught and influenced by Casimir Lewy, who was a former student of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Ian Hacking Biography(peomhunter.com)
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The Emergence of Probability
On this day Hacking's most well known book is released. "The Emergence of Probability" Is largely based on the idea that our modern concept of probability didn't come into being until around the mid 17th Century in Europe. According to Hacking, "Numerical ideas or randomness seems first to have occurred in print only in 1662." He goes on to say that "probable used to have the connotation of approval." And that today we use the word "Probable, probably, to give tentative judgement." (Part 1) -
The Emergence of Probability (Part 2)
In a later section of the book, Hacking writes about how with the new "concept of probability" Leibniz created a "new kind of logic" called inductive reasoning. Later mad popular by Jeffreys and Keynes, Inductive reasoning was an example of the shift in the meaning of probability. Leibniz thought with Inductive reasoning we could "always estimate which event under given circumstances can be expected with the highest probability." (part 1) The Emergence of Probability: pg.(18-19),(134,135) -
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Transitory Period
During this time there seems to be a shift in Hackings interest. Many see this period as a move from work on statistics and logic to a more cultural focus. For example, his two books "Rewriting the Soul: Multiple Personality and the Sciences of Memory" (1995) and "Mad Travellers: Reflections on the Reality of Transient Mental Illness" (1998) are about examining memory and mental illness. (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ian-hacking -
Achievements
In the early 2000's, Ian Hacking received a number of notable achievements. These include:
a permanent chair at the College de France (2000).
Molson prize and Inaugural Killam Prize (2002).
Named Companion of the Order of Canada (2004). (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ian-hacking -
Current Lectures
Today, Hacking still gives lectures and speeches around the world. Attached is a 2011 lecture about statistics and how we think about them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE94nNB2WOc