Max Heitmann: 'Does Neo-Boltzmannian Statistical Mechanics Undermine our Knowledge of the Low-Entropy Past?'
In his seminal book Time and Chance, David Albert formulates and further develops the “neo-Boltzmannian” understanding of statistical mechanics. In his discussion he argues that statistical mechanics, understood in this way, entails a disturbing sceptical conclusion about our knowledge of the low-entropy past. I disambiguate two versions of Albert’s claim and argue against both.
The PoP-grunch (Philosophy of Physics Graduate Lunch) is a weekly informal seminar in which graduate students in Philosophy of Physics present their work in progress. Anyone can attend. Anyone interested in presenting or being added to the mailing list should contact Dominik Ehrenfels dominik.ehrenfels@wolfson.ox.ac.uk.
Philosophy of Physics Graduate Lunch Seminar Convenor: Dominik Ehrenfels
