1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910767579903321

Autore

Lazarovici Dustin

Titolo

Typicality Reasoning in Probability, Physics, and Metaphysics / / by Dustin Lazarovici

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan, , 2023

ISBN

9783031334481

3031334485

Edizione

[1st ed. 2023.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (380 pages)

Collana

New Directions in the Philosophy of Science, , 2947-6836

Disciplina

530.01

Soggetti

Physics - Philosophy

Metaphysics

Mathematics - Philosophy

Philosophy of Physics

Philosophy of Mathematics

Philosophical Foundations of Physics and Astronomy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

1. Introduction -- Part I: Probability -- 2. Typicality in Probability Theory -- 3. Cournot’s Principle -- 4. A Typicality Theory of Probability -- 5. The Mentaculus: Typicality versus Humean Chances -- 6. The Structure of Typicality -- Part II: Physics -- 7. From the Universe to Subsystems -- 8. Boltzmann’s Statistical Mechanics -- 9. It’s Complicated: The Relationship of Physics and Mathematics -- 10. Boltzmann Equation and the H-theorem.-11. Past Hypothesis and the Arrow of Time.-12. Causality and the Arrow of Time.-13. Quantum Mechanics -- Part III: Beyond Physics.-14. Other Applications of Typicality.-15. Special Science Laws.-16. Typicality and the Metaphysics of Laws -- Appendix A Time-reversal Invariance -- Appendix B Proof of Theorems.

Sommario/riassunto

This book provides a comprehensive investigation into the concept of typicality and its significance for physics and the philosophy of science. It identifies typicality as a fundamental way of reasoning, central to how natural laws explain and are tested against phenomena. The book



discusses various applications of typicality to foundational questions in physics and beyond.These include: a unified interpretation of objective probabilities in classical mechanics and quantum mechanics a detailed discussion of Boltzmann's statistical mechanics, entropy, and the second law of thermodynamics a novel account of the asymmetry of causation and the arrow of time Finally, the book turns to the question: "What are laws of nature"? It argues that typicality extends to a powerful way of reasoning in metaphysics that can and should inform our commitments about the fundamental ontology of the world. On this basis, it develops an argument against the Humean best system account, according to which laws of nature are merely an efficient summary of contingent regularities. Dustin Lazarovici studied physics and mathematics at the University of Munich. He holds a PhD in mathematics from the University of Munich and a PhD in philosophy from the University of Lausanne. He is currently an Assistant Professor for philosophy of physics and philosophy of science at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. .