The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time: Reinterpreting the Boltzmann-Schuetz Argument

Cirkovic, Milan (2002) The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time: Reinterpreting the Boltzmann-Schuetz Argument.

Abstract

The recent surge of interest in the
origin of the temporal asymmetry of thermodynamical systems
(including the accessible part of the universe itself) put forward
two possible explanatory approaches to this age-old problem.
Hereby we show that there is a third possible alternative, based
on the generalization of the classical (``Boltzmann-Schuetz'')
anthropic fluctuation picture of the origin of the perceived
entropy gradient. This alternative (which we dub the
Acausal-Anthropic approach) is based on accepting Boltzmann's
statistical measure at its face value, and accomodating it within
the quantum cosmological concept of the multiverse. We argue that
conventional objections raised against the Boltzmann-Schuetz view
are less forceful and serious than it is usually assumed.
A fortiori, they are incapable of rendering the
generalized theory untenable. On the contrary, this analysis
highlights some of the other advantages of the multiverse approach
to the thermodynamical arrow of time.