Uploaded July 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
I highlight that the aim of using statistical mechanics to underpin irreversible processes is, strictly speaking, ambiguous. Traditionally, however, the task of underpinning irreversible processes has been thought to be synonymous with underpinning the Second Law of thermodynamics. I claim that contributors to the foundational discussion are best interpreted as aiming to provide a microphysical justification of the Minus First Law, which says that an isolated system in an arbitrary initial state within a finite fixed volume will spontaneously attain a unique state of equilibrium. I suggest that contributors should aim at accounting for both the Minus First Law and Second Law.
Annual UWO Philosophy of Physics Conference
Thermodynamics as a Resource Theory: Foundational and Philosophical Implications
June 20-22, 2018
philphysics.uwo.ca
Joshua Luczak, Leibniz Universität Hannover
Visit the Rotman website for more information on applications, events, project descriptions, and openings. rotman.uwo.ca
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I highlight that the aim of using statistical mechanics to underpin irreversible processes is, strictly speaking, ambiguous. Traditionally, however, the task of underpinning irreversible processes has been thought to be synonymous with underpinning the Second Law of thermodynamics. I claim that contributors to the foundational discussion are best interpreted as aiming to provide a microphysical justification of the Minus First Law, which says that an isolated system in an arbitrary initial state within a finite fixed volume will spontaneously attain a unique state of equilibrium. I suggest that contributors should aim at accounting for both the Minus First Law and Second Law.
Annual UWO Philosophy of Physics Conference
Thermodynamics as a Resource Theory: Foundational and Philosophical Implications
June 20-22, 2018
philphysics.uwo.ca
Joshua Luczak, Leibniz Universität Hannover
Visit the Rotman website for more information on applications, events, project descriptions, and openings. rotman.uwo.ca
Follow The Rotman Institute on Twitter: twitter.com/rotmanphilo
Like The Rotman Institute on Facebook: facebook.com/rotmanphilosophy
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/user/rotmanphilosophy
