XX. Problems in probabilities: No. 2, competitive examinations
Francis Ysidro Edgeworth · The London Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science · 1890
It may suffic% therefore~ that attention has been called to a theory alternative to that of v. Hehnholtz, and which seems, to me at ]east~ much simpler and more probably true.An undoubted knowledge of even the sign of the potential of mercury in contact with an electrolyte would go a great way towards settling the question at issue.According to my view, it is probably negative.V. Helmholtz's theory is founded on the assumptio'n that it is positive; but, notwithstanding ttle rather decided way in which this assumption is at first stated*, no real proof is given; and the subsequent remark (" wKre z.B. das Queksilber positiv" t) indicates the recognized provisional character of the assumption.It lies with those who would give to the provisional theory of v. Hehnholtz the character of an ascertained law of Nature to provide a knowledge of the true value of the hypotheses on which it is based be/bre it can c,qrr.ythe weight they propose to attach to it, or serve as a reliable support for the further researches already dependent on it. XX. P~'oblems inProbabilities : _No.2~ Competitire E:caminations.By Professor F. Y. EvGgwom'n, D.C.L