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Statistical concepts in philosophy of science

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Abstract

This article focuses on the role of statistical concepts in both experiment and theory in various scientific disciplines, especially physics, including astronomy, and psychology. In Sect. 1 the concept of uncertainty in astronomy is analyzed from Ptolemy to Laplace and Gauss. In Sect. 2 theoretical uses of probability and statistics in science are surveyed. Attention is focused on the historically important example of radioactive decay. In Sect. 3 the use of statistics in biology and the social sciences is examined, with detailed consideration of various Chi-square statistical tests. Such tests are essential for proper evaluation of many different kinds of scientific hypotheses.

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Correspondence to Patrick Suppes.

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Suppes, P. Statistical concepts in philosophy of science. Synthese 154, 485–496 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-006-9122-0

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