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Good just isn't good enough

Humean chances and Boltzmannian statistical physics

Claus Beisbart

pp. 511-529

Résumé

Statistical physicists assume a probability distribution over micro-states to explain thermodynamic behavior. The question of this paper is whether these probabilities are part of a best system and can thus be interpreted as Humean chances. I consider two Boltzmannian accounts of the Second Law, viz. a globalist and a localist one. In both cases, the probabilities fail to be chances because they have rivals that are roughly equally good. I conclude with the diagnosis that well-defined micro-probabilities under-estimate the robust character of explanations in statistical physics.

Détails de la publication

Publié dans:

Dieks Dennis, Hartmann Stephan, Uebel Thomas, Weber Marcel, Galavotti Maria Carla (2014) New directions in the philosophy of science. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 511-529

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04382-1_36

Citation complète:

Beisbart Claus, 2014, Good just isn't good enough: Humean chances and Boltzmannian statistical physics. In D. Dieks, S. Hartmann, T. Uebel, M. Weber & M. Galavotti (eds.) New directions in the philosophy of science (511-529). Dordrecht, Springer.