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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.

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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