How did the fact become modernity's most favored unit of knowledge? How did description come to seem separable from theory in the precursors of economics and the social sciences?
Mary Poovey explores these questions in A History of the Modern Fact, ranging across an astonishing array of texts and ideas from the publication of the first British manual on double-entry bookkeeping in 1588 to the institutionalization of statistics in the 1830s. She shows how the production of systematic knowledge from descriptions of observed particulars influenced government, how numerical representation became the privileged vehicle for generating useful facts, and how belief—whether figured as credit, credibility, or credulity—remained essential to the production of knowledge.
Illuminating the epistemological conditions that have made modern social and economic knowledge possible, A History of the Modern Fact provides important contributions to the history of political thought, economics, science, and philosophy, as well as to literary and cultural criticism.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Mary Poovey has recently retired from her position as Samuel Rudin University Professor in the Humanities at New York University. She is the author of numerous books, including A History of the Modern Fact: Problems of Knowledge in the Sciences of Wealth and Society and Genres of the Credit Economy: Mediating Value in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Britain.
Poovey (English, New York Univ.) defines the modern fact as systematic knowledge that is derived from the theoretical interpretation of observed particulars, i.e., numbers. This distinction between description (numbers) and interpretation has not always been made, and in this work Poovey is interested in how numbers came to be seen as value-free and impartial while the theories used to interpret them are widely understood to be influenced by social and political factors. From the development of double-entry bookkeeping in the late 16th century to the early use of statistics in the 1830s, Poovey focuses on the history of wealth and economics in Britain. During this period numerical representations became an increasingly important vehicle for producing knowledge and displaying mercantile credibility and virtue and ultimately economic and social prestige. The modern fact is a pioneering epistemological designation, and this book is an important contribution to the history of science and thought as well as literary and cultural criticism. Written mainly for the scholar, this book is recommended for large public libraries with research collections and academic libraries strong in the social sciences.?Jim Woodman, Boston Athenaeum
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 5.50
Within U.S.A.
Seller: The Haunted Bookshop, LLC, Iowa City, IA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. Margin marks, mostly in pencil, mostly in the first 50 pages; the square, uncreased spine has a short wrinkle near the heel, but the soft cover is otherwise well-kept. A good study copy. xxv, 419pp. incl. index. Seller Inventory # 00083465
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: HPB-Red, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_384081383
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: TextbookRush, Grandview Heights, OH, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Ships SAME or NEXT business day. We Ship to APO/FPO addr. Choose EXPEDITED shipping and receive in 2-5 business days within the United States. See our member profile for customer support contact info. We have an easy return policy. Seller Inventory # 52898517
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Kennys Bookstore, Olney, MD, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Showing the epistemological conditions that have made modern, social and economic knowledge possible, this text explores questions such as, "how did fact become modernity's most favoured unit of knowledge?". Num Pages: 444 pages, 10 halftones. BIC Classification: 3JB; 3JD; 3JF; 3JH; HBG; HBTB; HPK; KCZ. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly; (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 155 x 229 x 23. Weight in Grams: 660. Good clean copy with minor shelfwear, remains very good. 1998. paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # KSK0000503
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Kennys Bookshop and Art Galleries Ltd., Galway, GY, Ireland
Condition: Very Good. Showing the epistemological conditions that have made modern, social and economic knowledge possible, this text explores questions such as, "how did fact become modernity's most favoured unit of knowledge?". Num Pages: 444 pages, 10 halftones. BIC Classification: 3JB; 3JD; 3JF; 3JH; HBG; HBTB; HPK; KCZ. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly; (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 155 x 229 x 23. Weight in Grams: 660. Good clean copy with minor shelfwear, remains very good. 1998. paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # KSK0000503
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Book is in Used-Good condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain limited notes and highlighting. 1.32. Seller Inventory # 0226675262-2-4
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: Fair. Acceptable/Fair condition. Book is worn, but the pages are complete, and the text is legible. Has wear to binding and pages, may be ex-library. 1.32. Seller Inventory # 353-0226675262-acp
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: Fine. Like New condition. Great condition, but not exactly fully crisp. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. 1.32. Seller Inventory # 353-0226675262-lkn
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Edmonton Book Store, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Condition: good. Dust Jacket Condition: no dustjacket. 8vo pp.419.previous owners name stamped onto the fore edges of pages and half title page. book. Seller Inventory # 303214
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Anybook.com, Lincoln, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has soft covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,700grams, ISBN:9780226675268. Seller Inventory # 8240756
Quantity: 1 available