Reduction of Thermodynamics: A Few Problems

Abstract

Lawrence Sklar in his book, 'Physics and Chance(1993)', proposes a sophisticated account of reduction of thermodynamics by statistical mechanics. This paper aims: (1) to show that Sklar's analysis of the alleged reduction of TD by SM is problematic in several respects; and (2) to suggest the broader conclusion that a more useful way of understanding the relationship between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics is as collaboration and competition among alternative methodologies rather than reduction of one theory to another.