Essai philosophique sur les probabilites

The work of the Marquis de Laplace (17491827) was enormously influential in the development of mathematical physics astronomy and statistics. Educated in Normandy he moved to Paris on obtaining a letter of introduction to d''Alembert who acted as his mentor while he undertook teaching and independent research in probability statistics and astronomy. Laplace survived the turmoil of the French Revolution the rise of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbons by a series of manoeuvres which gave him a reputation for insincerity and hypocrisy even among his peers who could correctly assess his contributions to science. His Essai philosophique sur les probabilits first published in 1814 and of which the fifth edition revised by the author is presented here is a fundamental work which establishes six principles of probability in mathematical terms.