The Place of the Law of Large Numbers in Ottoman Statistical Works and Ahmed Emin

Authors : Zekeriya Duru, Umit Islak

Pages : 189-230

Doi:10.26650/oba.1620047

View : 89 | Download : 95

Publication Date : 2025-07-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to examine the law of large numbers in the context of eight statistical works from the late Ottoman period, evaluating the efforts of Ottoman statisticians to keep up with contemporary developments. It has been observed that the statistical textbooks used in institutions such as The Imperial School of Civil Service (Mekteb-i Mülkiye-i Şâhâne), the Faculty of Law, and the School of Commerce were influenced by the ideas of Adolphe Quetelet (17961874) concerning the law of large numbers. Seven of these works emphasized the necessity of a large number of observations in statistical analyses but did not provide a sufficient explanation of the concept. The examples presented in relation to the law were found to be both quantitatively and qualitatively inadequate. Apart from these, the author of the eighth book, Ahmed Emin (Yalman, 1888-1972), brought a different perspective to statistics courses than other writers, under the influence of the sociology and journalism education he received in America. His textbook İhsâʾiyyat (Statistics), written for students of the School of Civil Service, differs from others in its structure and approach. Unlike other works, it analyzes statistics primarily through the lens of the law of large numbers and employs it extensively to better illustrate causal relationships. The book devotes a significant portion to the concept of normal distribution and its graphical representation, making it noteworthy in terms of originality.
Keywords : Büyük Sayılar Yasası, Osmanlı İstatistik Tarihi, Adolphe Quetelet, Ahmed Emin, İhsâʾiyyat

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