Single Idea 23009

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / d. Entropy]

Full Idea

According to contemporary statistical mechanics the second law of thermodynamics is not really a law at all, but merely reflects to probabilities of certain microstates, conditional on local boundary conditions having certain properties.

Gist of Idea

There is no second 'law' of thermodynamics; it just reflects probabilities of certain microstates

Source

Baron,S/Miller,K (Intro to the Philosophy of Time [2019], 5.6.1)

Book Reference

Baron,S/Miller,K: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Time' [Polity 2019], p.139


A Reaction

A nice illustration of how metaphysicians have been seduced by the 'laws' of nature into falsely inferring all sorts of natural necessities. Entropy is normally assumed to be totally inevitable, because of some natural force. It's just a pattern.