Physics and Chance: Philosophical Issues in the Foundations of Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
Statistical mechanics is one of the crucial fundamental theories of physics, and in his new book Lawrence Sklar, one of the pre-eminent philosophers of physics, offers a comprehensive, non-technical introduction to that theory and to attempts to understand its foundational elements. Among the topics treated in detail are: probability and statistical explanation, the basic issues in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, the role of cosmology, the reduction of thermodynamics to statistical mechanics, and the alleged foundation of the very notion of time asymmetry in the entropic asymmetry of systems in time. The book emphasises the interaction of scientific and philosophical modes of reasoning, and in this way will interest all philosophers of science as well as those in physics and chemistry concerned with philosophical questions. The book could also be read by an informed general reader interested in the foundations of modern science.
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The reduction of facts about temperature to facts about energy helps the cause of unification.
“The thought that the reduction of facts about temperature to facts about energy helps the cause of unification is extremely common.”
From Nomothetic Explanation and Humeanism about Laws of Nature (2020) · cites this paper as Sklar (1993, p. 333)
When we reduce facts about temperature to facts about energy, the theory about energy can capture all the phenomena about temperature because the facts about temperature are nothing over and above the facts about energy.
“When we reduce facts about temperature to the facts about the energy of particles then the theory about energy can now capture all the phenomena about temperature because the facts about temperature are nothing over and above the facts about energy.”
From Nomothetic Explanation and Humeanism about Laws of Nature (2020) · cites this paper as Sklar (1993, p. 333)
The metaphysical explanations of facts about temperature in terms of facts about the energy of particles helps us assimilate the facts about temperature to the more general patterns about the movement of particles.
“The metaphysical explanations of facts about temperature in terms of facts about the energy of particles helps us assimilate the facts about temperature to the more general patterns about the movement of particles.”
From Nomothetic Explanation and Humeanism about Laws of Nature (2020) · cites this paper as Sklar (1993, p. 333)
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Nomothetic Explanation and Humeanism about Laws of Nature
Bhogal, H. (2020) · Oxford Studies in Metaphysics Volume 12 · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192893314.003.0006 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Viscoelastic Networks: Forming Cells and Tissues
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- Authors
- Sklar, L.
- Corresponding author
- Sklar, Lawrence
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 1993-10-29
- OpenAlex
- W2054961493
- Cited by
- 634
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 8.49
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Keywords
- statistical mechanics, probability, statistical explanation, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, equilibrium statistical mechanics, cosmology, time asymmetry, philosophy of physics, foundations of statistical mechanics
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