Some philosphers of science of an empiricist and pragmatist bent have proposed models of statistical explanation, but have then become sceptical of the adequacy of these models. It is argued that general considerations concerning the purpose of function of explanation in science which are usually appealed to by such philosophers show that their scepticism is not well taken; for such considerations provide much the same rationale for the search for statistical explanations, as these philosophers have characterized them, as they do (...) for lawlike explanations. But, it is further argued, a significant piece of what is frequently offered as an explanation of well known phenomena in statistical mechanics, fails to meet this general "pragmatic rationale" for statistical, or indeed any kind of, explanation. The question then arises whether the physicists have misconstrued the value of this piece of physical theorizing, ergodic theory, taking it to be explanatory when it is actually not; or whether, instead, the philosopher's account of just what is genuinely explanatory is too narrow. (shrink)

The general properties of measurements in microphysics are studied and the three types of probabilities that, according to the authors, appear in wave mechanics are set up. Such a distinction, together with the principle of the localization of the corpuscle as was laid down at the very introduction of the theory of the double solution, provides a good grasp of certain phenomena whose explanation according to the usual theory (which makes no use of permanent localization and where the three types (...) of probabilities are intermingled) leads to paradoxical or self-contradictory situations. (shrink)

The meaning of the phrase “the direction of time” and the physical problems involved are considered. These problems are discussed and plausibility arguments are given to show that all clocks run in the same direction (almost always), that the most probable development of the Universe during the early stages of the expansion would result in the introduction of some internal organization, and that the expansion of the Universe and the increase in entropy define time directions that have the same sense. (...) The question of what properties of the laws governing the Universe lead to these results is studied. (shrink)

A strict operational (i.e., informational) analysis of the meaning of preparing a system to realize the paradoxes of Loschmidt or Zermelo is made. Where reversal or recurrence are operationally realizable, no contradiction with the irreversible nature of macroscopic operations occurs. Paradox results either from neglecting irreversible phenomena in the means for preparing a reversed state, or from confusing elements or ensembles, which are meaningful in microstate language but meaningless operationally, with preparable macrostates, whoserepresentation in microstate language is an ensemble whose (...) very definition is incompatible with that of any paradox-generating element or ensemble. (shrink)