Reduction of Thermodynamics: A Few Problems

Yi, Sang Wook

doi:10.1086/377386

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…But the problem is that partition functions of finite systems do not have singularities: 'SM [statistical mechanics] represents the abrupt phase-changes of a system as singularities of its partition function. But no partition function of a finite system can have these singularities; only infinite systems can' (Yi 2003(Yi , 1032. The common solution of this problem of explaining phase transitions in statistical mechanics is to take the 'thermodynamic limit', which means to assume that the system in question consists of an infinite number of particles: 'Mathematical physics avoids this result by taking the thermodynamic limit, for it is possible for systems with infinite N to display singular behavior for non-vanishing partition functions' (Callender 2001, 549).…”

Section: Phenomenological Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction and the Neighbourhood of Theories: A New Approach to the Intertheoretic Relations in Physics

Gutschmidt

2014

J Gen Philos Sci

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This paper proposes a classification of the intertheoretic relations in physics by bringing out the conditions for a relation of reduction which is eliminative, so that a theory reduced in terms of reductionism is superfluous in principle, and by distinguishing such a relation from another one based on comparison, which will be called neighbourhood of theories; the latter is a neighbouring relation between theories and is not able to support claims of eliminative reductionism. In the first part, it will be argued that this differentiation between neighbourhood and eliminative reduction permits an adequate classification of the intertheoretic relations in physics. By means of this differentiation, the second part discusses reductionism and shows that there are indeed some historical examples of reduction in the aforementioned sense, but that modern physical theories are typically only neighbouring.

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Section: Phenomenological Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction and the Neighbourhood of Theories: A New Approach to the Intertheoretic Relations in Physics

Gutschmidt

2014

J Gen Philos Sci

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“…1 Now, it seems that reduction isn't all that smooth in chemistry and physics either (Yi, 2003, Schaffner, 2006, Hendry and Needham, 2007. Given this, biological kinds must be taken to bring additional trouble.…”

Section: The Targeted Positionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Selection and Multiple Realisation: A Closer Look

Brunnander

2013

International Studies in the Philosophy of Science

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Abstract:The target of this paper is the claim that natural selection accounts for the multiple realisation of biological and psychological kinds. I argue that the explanation actually offered doesn't provide any insight about the phenomenon since it presupposes multiple realisation as an unexplained premise, and this is what does all the work. The purported explanation mistakenly invokes the "indifference" of selection to structure as an additional explanatorily relevant factor. While such indifference can be explanatory in intentional contexts it isn't a causal factor at all in non-intentional nature. The upshot is that once the necessary initial assumption about heterogeneity is accepted there is no further explanation to do.

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Time in Thermodynamics

North

2011

Oxford Handbooks Online

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It is often claimed, or hoped, that some temporal asymmetries are explained by the thermodynamic asymmetry in time. Thermodynamics, the macroscopic physics of pressure, temperature, volume, and so on, describes many temporally asymmetric processes. Heat flows spontaneously from hot objects to cold objects (in closed systems), never the reverse. More generally, systems spontaneously move from non-equilibrium states to equilibrium states, never the reverse. Delving into the foundations of statistical mechanics, this chapter reviews the many open questions in that field as they relate to temporal asymmetry. Taking a stand on many of them, it tackles questions about the nature of probabilities, the role of boundary conditions, and even the nature and scope of statistical mechanics.

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Reduction of Thermodynamics: A Few Problems

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Reduction and the Neighbourhood of Theories: A New Approach to the Intertheoretic Relations in Physics

Reduction and the Neighbourhood of Theories: A New Approach to the Intertheoretic Relations in Physics

Natural Selection and Multiple Realisation: A Closer Look

Time in Thermodynamics

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