Fechner as a statistician

The work of Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801–1887) related to probability and statistics and, in particular, to the treatment of observations is described. From a mathematical point of view his arguments were often insufficient, but his work proved to be highly fruitful, and the relevant comments of such scholars as Pearson and von Mises are presented. As the originator of psychophysics, Fechner opened up a new field for quantification. Subsequent workers rejected some of his findings, while at the same time acknowledging their debt to him.