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Typicality, Irreversibility and the Status of Macroscopic Laws

Lazarovici, Dustin and Reichert, Paula (2014) Typicality, Irreversibility and the Status of Macroscopic Laws. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We discuss Boltzmann’s probabilistic explanation of the second law of thermodynamics, providing a comprehensive presentation of what is called today the typicality account. Countering its misconception as an alternative explanation, we examine the relation between Boltz- mann’s H-theorem and the general typicality argument, demonstrating the conceptual continuity between the two. We then discuss the philo- sophical dimensions of the concept of typicality and its relevance for scientific reasoning in general, in particular for understanding the re- duction of macroscopic laws to microscopic laws. Finally, we reply to recent criticisms of the typicality account.

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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Lazarovici, Dustinlazarovici@math.lmu.de
Reichert, Paulareichert@math.lmu.de
Keywords: Boltzmann, Statistical Mechanics, Irreversibility, Entropy, Typicality, Ergodicity, Reductionism
Subjects: General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: Dr. Dustin Lazarovici
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2014 16:14
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2014 12:15
Item ID: 10237
Subjects: General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: January 2014
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10237

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