He is known for his book Theologiae Christianae Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Christian Theology), published in 1698.
In the aforementioned book, Craig presents a formula that describes how the probability of a historical event depends on the number of primary witnesses, on the chain of transmission through secondary witnesses, on the elapsed time and on the spatial distance. Using this formula, Craig derived that the probability of the story of Jesus would reach 0 in the year 3150.[1] This year he interpreted as the Second Coming of Christ because of verse 18:8 in the Gospel of Luke.
His work was poorly received and controversial at the time.[2] Several later mathematicians complained about his imprecise use of probability and the unsupported derivation of his formula. Stephen Stigler, in his 1999 book (see references, below) gave a more favorable interpretation, pointing out that some of Craig's reasoning can be justified if his "probability" is interpreted as the log-likelihood ratio.
Logarithms
Craig was involved in developing the concept of Hyperbolic logarithm and in 1710 published “Logarithmotechnica generalis” in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. By way of illustration he gives the Mercator series for the logarithm (denoted l.) without mention of radius of convergence: “Exemplar 1. Assumatur a = y, unde per Canonum generalum cujus differentials est & hujus integralis per Seriem infinitum expressa dat
^Wigelsworth, Jeff (2023). "The deist controversy and John Craig's Theologiae Christianae Principia Mathematica (1699)". History of European Ideas. doi:10.1080/01916599.2022.2119030. ISSN 0191-6599.
S. M. Stigler, Statistics on the Table, Chapter 13, Harvard University Press, (1999).
J. F. Scott, Dictionary of Scientific Biography (New York 1970–1990).
Dale, Andrew I. "Craig, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6577. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.). The first edition of this text is available at Wikisource: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1887). "Craig, John (d.1731)" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 12. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
R. Nash, John Craige's mathematical principles of Christian theology (1991).
M. Cantor, Vorlesungen über Geschichte der Mathematik III (Leipzig, 1896), 52, 188.
Dictionary of National Biography (London, 1917).
S. M. Stigler, John Craig and the probability of history: from the death of Christ to the birth of Laplace, Journal of the American Statistical Association81 (1986), 879–887.
External links
MacTutor: John Craig
Significant Scots: John Craig
February 25, 2023
john, craig, mathematician, john, craig, 1663, october, 1731, scottish, mathematician, theologian, john, craigborn1663hoddam, dumfries, scotlanddied11, october, 1731high, holborn, london, englandnationalityscottishalma, materuniversity, edinburghknown, forlog,. John Craig 1663 11 October 1731 was a Scottish mathematician and theologian John CraigBorn1663Hoddam Dumfries ScotlandDied11 October 1731High Holborn London EnglandNationalityScottishAlma materUniversity of EdinburghKnown forLog likelihood ratioScientific careerFieldsMathematicianAcademic advisorsDavid GregoryInfluencesIsaac Newton Tractatus mathematicus de figurarum curvilinearum quadraturis et locis geometricis 1693 Contents 1 Biography 2 Mathematical Principles of Christian Theology 3 Logarithms 4 Works 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksBiography EditBorn in Dumfries and educated at the University of Edinburgh Craig moved to England and became a vicar in the Church of England A friend of Isaac Newton he wrote several minor works about the new calculus He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1711 Mathematical Principles of Christian Theology EditHe is known for his book Theologiae Christianae Principia Mathematica Mathematical Principles of Christian Theology published in 1698 In the aforementioned book Craig presents a formula that describes how the probability of a historical event depends on the number of primary witnesses on the chain of transmission through secondary witnesses on the elapsed time and on the spatial distance Using this formula Craig derived that the probability of the story of Jesus would reach 0 in the year 3150 1 This year he interpreted as the Second Coming of Christ because of verse 18 8 in the Gospel of Luke His work was poorly received and controversial at the time 2 Several later mathematicians complained about his imprecise use of probability and the unsupported derivation of his formula Stephen Stigler in his 1999 book see references below gave a more favorable interpretation pointing out that some of Craig s reasoning can be justified if his probability is interpreted as the log likelihood ratio Logarithms EditCraig was involved in developing the concept of Hyperbolic logarithm and in 1710 published Logarithmotechnica generalis in the Proceedings of the Royal Society By way of illustration he gives the Mercator series for the logarithm denoted l without mention of radius of convergence Exemplar 1 Assumatur a y unde per Canonum generalum x l 1 y displaystyle x l overline 1 y cujus differentials est x y 1 y displaystyle dot x frac dot y 1 y amp hujus integralis per Seriem infinitum expressa dat x y 1 2 y 2 1 3 y 3 1 4 y 4 1 5 y 5 1 6 y 6 1 7 y 7 displaystyle x y frac 1 2 y 2 frac 1 3 y 3 frac 1 4 y 4 frac 1 5 y 5 frac 1 6 y 6 frac 1 7 y 7 3 Works Edit1698 Logarithmic quadrature in Latin Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 1703 Specimen of determining quadrature of figures in Latin Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 284 via Biodiversity Heritage Library 1710 Method of making logarithms in Latin Philosophical Transactions of the Royal SocietyReferences Edit Dario Perinetti Hume History and the Science of Human Nature pp 44 50 http digitool library mcgill ca webclient StreamGate folder id 0 amp dvs 1500958623084 197 Wigelsworth Jeff 2023 The deist controversy and John Craig s Theologiae Christianae Principia Mathematica 1699 History of European Ideas doi 10 1080 01916599 2022 2119030 ISSN 0191 6599 Logarithmotechnia generalis 1710 page 192Bibliography EditS M Stigler Statistics on the Table Chapter 13 Harvard University Press 1999 J F Scott Dictionary of Scientific Biography New York 1970 1990 Dale Andrew I Craig John Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 6577 Subscription or UK public library membership required The first edition of this text is available at Wikisource Stephen Leslie ed 1887 Craig John d 1731 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 12 London Smith Elder amp Co R Nash John Craige s mathematical principles of Christian theology 1991 M Cantor Vorlesungen uber Geschichte der Mathematik III Leipzig 1896 52 188 Dictionary of National Biography London 1917 S M Stigler John Craig and the probability of history from the death of Christ to the birth of Laplace Journal of the American Statistical Association 81 1986 879 887 External links EditMacTutor John Craig Significant Scots John Craig Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Craig mathematician amp oldid 1139768647, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
