Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life

Theodore M. Porter

Why do we trust numbers, and how did objectivity become the standard for science, government and public decisions?

At a glance

You will see why the credibility of a number is a social and moral matter, not only a technical one
You will understand why public officials lean on rules and numbers, since harm from discretionary human choices invites challenge in court
You will question the idea that numbers escape human judgment, since even computer packages require choices