Pierre-Simon Laplace, 1749-1827

by Gillispie, Charles Coulston

• ISBN13: 9780691050270
• ISBN10: 0691050279
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-02-07
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

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-volumeTraiteacute; de meacute;canique ceacute;leste(1799-1825) andTheacute;orie analytique des probabiliteacute;s(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.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	xi
PART I: EARLY CAREER, 1768--1778
Youth, Education, and Election to the Academy	3	(4)
Finite Differences, Recurrent Series, and Theory of Chance	7	(6)
Probability of Events and of Their Causes: The Origin of Statistical Inference	13	(16)
Universal Gravitation	29	(9)
Distribution of Comets	38	(6)
Partial Differential Equations, Determinants, and Variation of Constants	44	(7)
The Figure of the Earth and the Motion of the Seas	51	(16)
PART II: LAPALACE IN HIS PRIME, 1778--1789
Influence and Reputation	67	(3)
Variation of Constants, Differential Operators	70	(2)
Probability Matured	72	(14)
Generating Functions and Definite Integrals	86	(7)
Population	93	(3)
Determination of the Orbits of Comets	96	(5)
Lavoisier and Laplace: Chemical Physics of Heat	101	(8)
Attraction of Spheroids	109	(15)
Planetary Astronomy	124	(25)
PART III: SYNTHESIS AND SCIENTIFIC STATESMANSHIP
The Revolution and the Metric System	149	(7)
Scientific Work in the Early Revolution	156	(10)
Exposition du systeme du monde	166	(10)
A Scientific Eminence	176	(8)
Traite de mecanique celeste	184	(15)
PART IV: LAPLACIAN PHYSICS AND PROBABILITY
The Velocity of Sound	199	(4)
Robert Fox
Short-Range Forces	203	(6)
Robert Fox
The Laplacian School	209	(7)
Robert Fox
Theory of Error	216	(8)
Probability: Theorie analytique and Essai philosophique	224	(19)
Loss of Influence	243	(7)
Robert Fox
The Last Analysis	250	(9)
PART V: THE LAPLACE TRANSFORM
Laplace's Integral Solutions to Partial Differential Equations	259	(12)
Ivor Grattan-Guinness
Conclusion	271	(9)
Abbreviations	280	(1)
Bibliography	281	(38)
Index	319