Hope and Glory: Did the social history of eternal salvation shape the mathematical probability we rely on today?

Research output: Contribution to specialist publicationArticle

Abstract

Why do French-speaking mathematicians use the word espérance, or “hope”, to describe the core result of a calculation in mathematical probability? English speakers use the word “expectation” and it may seem odd to use hope, an emotive term, in mathematics. Mathematics, after all, should be universally, objectively, true.
Original languageEnglish
Specialist publicationThe Sociological Review
Publication statusPublished - 10 Oct 2023

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