138047277 How+Many+Aims+Are+We+Aiming+At+Website.pdf (244.26 kB)
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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,
despite the ways their aims are often stated. I suggest that contributors
should aim at accounting for both the Minus First Law and Second Law. |