Background
Hacking, lan was born on February 18, 1936 in Vancouver.
Philosopher and historian of science
Hacking, lan was born on February 18, 1936 in Vancouver.
1956, BA in Mathematics and Physics, University of British Columbia. 1958, BA in Moral Sciences, Cambridge University. 1962, Manuscripts and Archives and PhD, Cambridge University.
1958-1962, Senior Scholar and Rouse Ball student. Trinity College.
1960-1961, Instructor, Princeton University. 1962-1964, Research Fellow, Peterhouse, Cambridge. 1964-1969, Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia.
1969-1974, University Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Cambridge, Fellow of Peterhouse. 1974-1975, Fellow. Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford. 1975-1982, Professor, Stanford University.
From 1982, Professor, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, and in Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto: various fellowships, and since 1989 Adjunct Professor, York University.
A considerable amount of Hacking's work >s concerned with the concept of probability and the foundations of statistics. He has presented a detailed theory of statistical support, worked out from first principles, which is consistent with neoBayesianism. Hacking has also conducted historical research into the concept of probability inductive logic, the problem of induction and related issues. In a metaphilosophical study he demonstrates, through a series of case studies, the importance of language for philosophical spevulation. In a different area Hacking argues in favour of scientific realism, in the sense that some theoretical entities must be real. The point is not that scientific theories are true or false. Hacking argues on the one hand that experimental science ls to some extent independent of theorizing, and °n the other that a reasonable account of experimentation presupposes realism, in his sense. Sources: Personal communication.
