
Typicality Reasoning in Probability, Physics, and Metaphysics
Dustin Lazarovici(Author)
Palgrave Macmillan (Publisher)
Published on 4. December 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
XVII, 374 pages
978-3-031-33450-4 (ISBN)
Description
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 mechanicsa detailed discussion of Boltzmann's statistical mechanics, entropy, and the second law of thermodynamicsa 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 theHumean best system account, according to which laws of nature are merely an efficient summary of contingent regularities.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cham
Switzerland
Publishing group
Springer International Publishing
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
15 s/w Abbildungen
XVII, 374 p. 15 illus.
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 148 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
506 gr
ISBN-13
978-3-031-33450-4 (9783031334504)
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-33448-1
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Dustin Lazarovici
Typicality Reasoning in Probability, Physics, and Metaphysics
Book
11/2023
Palgrave Macmillan
€160.49
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
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.
Content
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