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Thermodynamic Irreversibility: Does the Big Bang Explain What It Purports to Explain?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Daniel Parker
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Abstract

In this paper I examine Albert's (2000) claim that the low entropy state of the early universe is sufficient to explain irreversible thermodynamic phenomena. In particular, I argue that conditionalizing on the initial state of the universe does not have the explanatory power it is presumed to have. I present several arguments to the effect that Albert's ‘past hypothesis’ alone cannot justify the belief in past nonequilibrium conditions or ground the veracity of records of the past.

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Type
Topics in Philosophy of Physics
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 72 , Issue 5: Proceedings of the 2004 Biennial Meeting of The Philosophy of Science Association. Part I: Contributed Papers , December 2005 , pp. 751 - 763
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

I would like to thank Jeffrey Bub and Mathias Frisch for their comments on earlier versions of this paper.

References

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