Is Thermodynamics Subjective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10706284 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Katie Robertson (0000-0002-0645-0761, University of Birmingham), Carina Prunkl (0000-0002-0123-9561, University of Oxford) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 90 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1320-1330 |
| Publication date | 2023-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/psa.2023.58 |
| OpenAlex | W4361306128 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 22 |
Thermodynamics is an unusual theory. Prominent figures, including J. C. Maxwell and E. T. Jaynes, have suggested that thermodynamics is anthropocentric, and contemporary approaches label thermodynamics a “subjective theory.” Here, we evaluate the arguments for anthropocentrism but conclude that instead of pointing to an anthropocentric view, they point towards a resource-relative understanding of thermodynamics which can be shorn of the “subjective gloss.”
Anthropocentrism · Epistemology · Laws of thermodynamics · Non-equilibrium thermodynamics · Physics · Theoretical physics · Thermodynamics · Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics · Philosophy · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Statistical Mechanics and Entropy
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |