Beisbart, Claus (2014). Good just isn't Good Enough: Humean Chances and Boltzmannian Statistical Physics. In: Calvotti, Maria Carla; Dieks, Dennis; Gonzalez, W. J.; Hartmann, Stephan; Uebel, Thomas; Weber, Marcel (eds.) New Directions in the Philosophy of Science. The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective: Vol. 5 (pp. 511-529). Cham, Heidelberg etc.: Springer 10.1007/978-3-319-04382-1_36
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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.
Item Type: |
Book Section (Book Chapter) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institute of Philosophy 06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institute of Philosophy > Theoretical Philosophy |
UniBE Contributor: |
Beisbart, Claus |
Subjects: |
100 Philosophy 100 Philosophy > 110 Metaphysics 100 Philosophy > 120 Epistemology |
ISBN: |
978-3-319-04382-1 |
Series: |
The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective |
Publisher: |
Springer |
Submitter: |
Claus Beisbart |
Date Deposited: |
13 Mar 2015 16:34 |
Last Modified: |
11 Jul 2024 09:43 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1007/978-3-319-04382-1_36 |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.64947 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/64947 |
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