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Lotteries, Bookmaking and Ancient Randomizers: Local and Global Analyses of Chance

Norton, John (2022) Lotteries, Bookmaking and Ancient Randomizers: Local and Global Analyses of Chance. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 95. pp. 108-117. ISSN 0039-3681

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Abstract

A local analysis of a chance system recovers the properties of the totality by accumulating the chance properties of its components. A global analysis considers only the properties of the chance system taken as a whole. It can sometimes provide an easier demonstration of the fitness for purpose of chance systems. Such is the case for the operators of lotteries and for bookmakers at a racetrack. Physical
randomizers akin to dice were used extensively in antiquity for gambling, drawing lots and in divination. There is no ancient account of the fitness of these randomizers for these purposes and no ancient theory of the individual chances of outcomes. A global analysis can establish their fitness for purpose. If the rules of gambling and lot drawing are such that everyone has an equal opportunity, they are fair, independently of the individual, local chances. The randomizers are fit for the purposes of divination in so far as it is believed that the oracle has no control on the outcomes of the randomizers. In asking why some earlier culture did not discover probability theory, we presume incorrectly an inevitability to probability theory.
The better question is why any culture found the theory at all.


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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Norton, Johnjdnorton@pitt.eduJDNORTON0000-0003-0936-5308
Date: 5 August 2022
Date Type: Acceptance
Journal or Publication Title: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Volume: 95
Publisher: Elsevier
Page Range: pp. 108-117
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2022.08.004
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > History and Philosophy of Science
Refereed: No
ISSN: 0039-3681
Related URLs:
Article Type: Research Article
Date Deposited: 23 Sep 2022 17:28
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2022 17:28
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/43710

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