The possible influence of the discovery of radio-active decay on the concept of physical probability (Q761433)

The author is trying to answer how the change from a deterministic account of nature to an indeterministic world picture came off. The paper is mostly historical and philosophical. The main idea of the author is that discovery, description and early interpretation of radio-active decay played a more significant role in formating the concept of physical probability than it is usually accepted. Some recent concepts of Amaldi are criticized and his arguments are discussed. The most important references and historical events concerning the subject are included.