SPINOZA AND THE LETTER ON PROBABILITY

Authors

  • Samuel Thimounier Ferreira Universidade de São Paulo
  • Carlos Henrique Melo de Souza Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2447-9012.espinosa.2020.168720

Keywords:

Espinosa, Probabilidade, Valor esperado, Cálculo de chances, Huygens

Abstract

This study aims to present and analyze Letter XXXVIII, October 1st , 1666, written by Spinoza. Being exclusively mathematical, its text answers a question of probability applied to gambling games in which it is necessary to keep equal chances of winning for all players. For this purpose, we will present the historical context and expose in detail the use and meaning of the terminology employed by Espinosa along of his explanations. Supplementary, we provide in appendix the original Dutch text of the letter mirrored with our Portuguese translation.

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References

Espinosa. B. (1677). De Nagelate Schriften van B.d. S. Als Zedekunst, Staatkunde, Verbetering van’ t Verstand, Brieven en Antwoorden, Uit verscheide Talen in de Nederlandse gebragt. Amsterdam: Jan Rieuwertsz, pp. 582-583.

Espinosa. B. (1925). Spinoza Opera. Im Auftrag der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften herausgegeben von Carl Gebhardt. Heildelberg: Carl Winter, v. iv.

Gigerenzer, G. et al. (Ed.). (1989). The Empire of Chance: How Probability Changed Science and Everyday Life, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Huygens, C. (1657). De ratiociniis in ludo aleae. In: De ratiociniis in ludo aleae. In: Van Schooten F. Ed. Exercitationem mathematicarum libri quinque. Leiden: Johannes Elsevir, v. v.

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Published

2020-06-29

Issue

No. 42 (2020)

Section

Tradução

License

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How to Cite

Ferreira, S. T., & Souza, C. H. M. de. (2020). SPINOZA AND THE LETTER ON PROBABILITY. Cadernos Espinosanos, 42, 317-340. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2447-9012.espinosa.2020.168720