Pierre-Simon Laplace, 1749-1827 : a life in exact science

著者

書誌事項

Pierre-Simon Laplace, 1749-1827 : a life in exact science

Charles Coulston Gillispie ; with the collaboration of Robert Fox and Ivor Grattan-Guinness

Princeton University Press, c1997

  • : pbk

大学図書館所蔵 件 / 全21件

この図書・雑誌をさがす

注記

Includes bibliographical references (p. [281]-317) and index

内容説明・目次

巻冊次

ISBN 9780691011851

内容説明

Pierre-Simon Laplace was among the most influential scientists in history. Often referred to as the lawgiver of French science, he is known for his technical contributions to exact science, for the philosophical point of view he developed in the presentation of his work, and for the leading part he took in forming the modern discipline of mathematical physics. His two most famous treatises were the five-volume Traite de mecanique celeste (1799-1825) and Theorie analytique des probabilites (1812). In the former he demonstrated mathematically the stability of the solar system in service to the universal Newtonian law of gravity. In the latter he developed probability from a set of miscellaneous problems concerning games, averages, mortality, and insurance risks into the branch of mathematics that permitted the quantification of estimates of error and the drawing of statistical inferences, wherever data warranted, in social, medical, and juridical matters, as well as in the physical sciences. This book traces the development of Laplace's research program and of his participation in the Academy of Science during the last decades of the Old Regime into the early years of the French Revolution. A scientific biography by Charles Gillispie comprises the major portion of the book. Robert Fox contributes an account of Laplace's attempt to form a school of young physicists who would extend the Newtonian model from astronomy to physics, and Ivor Grattan-Guinness summarizes the history of the scientist's most important single mathematical contribution, the Laplace Transform.
巻冊次

: pbk ISBN 9780691050270

内容説明

Pierre-Simon Laplace was among the most influential scientists in history. Often referred to as the lawgiver of French science, he is known for his technical contributions to exact science, for the philosophical point of view he developed in the presentation of his work, and for the leading part he took in forming the modern discipline of mathematical physics. His two most famous treatises were the five-volume Traite de mecanique celeste (1799-1825) and Theorie analytique des probabilites (1812). In the former he demonstrated mathematically the stability of the solar system in service to the universal Newtonian law of gravity. In the latter he developed probability from a set of miscellaneous problems concerning games, averages, mortality, and insurance risks into the branch of mathematics that permitted the quantification of estimates of error and the drawing of statistical inferences, wherever data warranted, in social, medical, and juridical matters, as well as in the physical sciences. This book traces the development of Laplace's research program and of his participation in the Academy of Science during the last decades of the Old Regime into the early years of the French Revolution. A scientific biography by Charles Gillispie comprises the major portion of the book. Robert Fox contributes an account of Laplace's attempt to form a school of young physicists who would extend the Newtonian model from astronomy to physics, and Ivor Grattan-Guinness summarizes the history of the scientist's most important single mathematical contribution, the Laplace Transform.

目次

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsPt. IEarly Career, 1768-1778Ch. 1Youth, Education, and Election to the Academy3Ch. 2Finite Differences, Recurrent Series, and Theory of Chance7Ch. 3Probability of Events and of Their Causes: The Origin of Statistical Inference13Ch. 4Universal Gravitation29Ch. 5Distribution of Comets38Ch. 6Partial Differential Equations, Determinants, and Variation of Constants44Ch. 7The Figure of the Earth and the Motion of the Seas51Pt. IILaplace in his Prime, 1778-1789Ch. 8Influence and Reputation67Ch. 9Variation of Constants, Differential Operators70Ch. 10Probability Matured72Ch. 11Generating Functions and Definite Integrals86Ch. 12Population93Ch. 13Determination of the Orbits of Comets96Ch. 14Lavoisier and Laplace: Chemical Physics of Heat101Ch. 15Attraction of Spheroids109Ch. 16Planetary Astronomy124Pt. IIISynthesis and Scientific StatesmanshipCh. 17The Revolution and the Metric System149Ch. 18Scientific Work in the Early Revolution156Ch. 19Exposition du systeme du monde166Ch. 20A Scientific Eminence176Ch. 21Traite de mecanique celeste184Pt. IVLaplacian Physics and ProbabilityCh. 22The Velocity of Sound199Ch. 23Short-Range Forces203Ch. 24The Laplacian School209Ch. 25Theory of Error216Ch. 26Probability: Theorie analytique and Essai philosophique224Ch. 27Loss of Influence243Ch. 28The Last Analysis250Pt. VThe Laplace TransformCh. 29Laplace's Integral Solutions to Partial Differential Equations259Conclusion271Abbreviations280Bibliography281Index319

「Nielsen BookData」 より

詳細情報

ページトップへ