Discussion: The Foundations of Statistical Mechanics—Questions and Answers

Philosophy of Science 72 (3):468-478 (2005)
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Abstract

Huw Price (1996, 2002, 2003) argues that causal-dynamical theories that aim to explain thermodynamic asymmetry in time are misguided. He points out that in seeking a dynamical factor responsible for the general tendency of entropy to increase, these approaches fail to appreciate the true nature of the problem in the foundations of statistical mechanics (SM). I argue that it is Price who is guilty of misapprehension of the issue at stake. When properly understood, causal-dynamical approaches in the foundations of SM offer a solution for a different problem; a problem that unfortunately receives no attention in Price’s celebrated work.

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Amit Hagar
Indiana University, Bloomington

Citations of this work

Minimal length in quantum gravity and the fate of Lorentz invariance.Amit Hagar - 2009 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 40 (3):259-267.
Experimental metaphysics2: The double standard in the quantum-information approach to the foundations of quantum theory.Amit Hagar - 2007 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38 (4):906-919.

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References found in this work

Time’s arrow and Archimedes’ point.Huw Price - 1996 - Philosophical and Phenomenological Research 59 (4):1093-1096.
Physics and Chance.Lawrence Sklar - 1995 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 46 (1):145-149.

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