George Boole Quotes About Probability

• Probability is expectation founded upon partial knowledge. A perfect acquaintance with all the circumstances affecting the occurrence of an event would change expectation into certainty, and leave nether room nor demand for a theory of probabilities.

  George Boole

  Probability Theory, Perfect, Expectations

  Collected Logical Works Volume II An Investigation of the Law of Thought Chapter XVI (p. 258)

• I am fully assured, that no general method for the solution of questions in the theory of probabilities can be established which does not explicitly recognize, not only the special numerical bases of the science, but also those universal laws of thought which are the basis of all reasoning, and which, whatever they may be as to their essence, are at least mathematical as to their form.

  George Boole

  Law, Essence, Special

  George Boole (1952). “Collected Logical Works”

• It follows that the word probability, in its mathematical acceptance, has reference to the state of our knowledge of the circumstances under which an event may happen or fail. With the degree of information we possess concerning the circumstances of an event, the reason we have to think that it will occur, or, to use a single term, our expectation of it will vary. Probability is the expectation founded upon partial knowledge.

  George Boole

  Acceptance, Thinking, Expectations

  George Boole (2007). “An Investigation of the Laws of Thought”, p.244, Cosimo, Inc.

• I am now about to set seriously to work upon preparing for the press an account of my theory of Logic and Probabilities which in its present state I look upon as the most valuable if not the only valuable contribution that I have made or am likely to make to Science and the thing by which I would desire if at all to be remembered hereafter.

  George Boole

  Desire, Looks, Logic

  Letter to William Thomson, January 2, 1851.

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