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Infinite Idealizations

Norton, John D. (2012) Infinite Idealizations. [Preprint]

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Abstract

1. Approximations of arbitrarily large but finite systems are often mistaken for infinite idealizations in statistical and thermal physics. The problem is illustrated by thermodynamically reversible processes. They are approximations of processes requiring arbitrarily long, but finite times to complete, not processes requiring an actual infinity of time.
2. The present debate over whether phase transitions comprise a failure of reduction is confounded by a confusion of two senses of “level”: the molecular versus the thermodynamic level and the few component versus the many component level.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Norton, John D.jdnorton@pitt.edu
Keywords: approximation, idealization, levels, phase transition, reduction, reversible process, statistical, thermodynamics
Subjects: General Issues > Models and Idealization
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: John Norton
Date Deposited: 25 Feb 2012 13:59
Last Modified: 25 Feb 2012 13:59
Item ID: 9028
Subjects: General Issues > Models and Idealization
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: 28 January 2012
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9028

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